Iran soldiers seize entire national beach football team after protest against regime

Officials in Iran have acquired the help of the army to allegedly seize the the nation's entire men's beach football team.

It comes after the players chose to show solidarity with anti-regime protesters on the international stage.

Iran defeated Brazil to win the Emirates Intercontinental Beach Soccer Cup in the United Arab Emirates, Saeed Piramoon emerging as the hero thanks to his winning goal in the dying embers of the final.

But the game was also used as a time for the players to voice their feelings on the civil and political unrest in the country following the death of Mahsa Amini.

Amini was a 22-year-old woman who was arrested for not wearing her hijab properly but died while in police custody, sparking mass protests in the region.

So before the clash with Brazil kicked off, the Iranian players took a stand by not singing their nation's national anthem.

During the match itself, after Piramoon scored the winning goal, he imitated to grab his hair and cut it – a gesture which reportedly supports the calls for better women's rights in Iran.

It's understood the players also refused to celebrate their victory.

Their stance seemingly received widespread praise from the football community, although Iranian officials clearly weren't too fond of it, insisting protestors 'will be dealt with' after staging a 'political act'.

“People who have not followed professional and sports ethics… will be dealt with according to the regulations,” a statement published by Iran’s Football Federation read.

“As per regulations of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Olympic Code of Ethics and the rules of FIFA, political behavior must be avoided in sports fields.”

Now, according to Viral Tab, soldiers have allegedly seized the Iranian beach football team.

The reports suggests the playing squad was taken away against their will 'to an unknown location by more than 15 men in uniform' following their return home from the United Arab Emirates.

SPORTbible has reached out to the players for comment.