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Al-Araby
Al-Araby
Iran’s football federation threw its weight behind former national team captain Mehdi Mahdavikia Wednesday after he faced criticism for wearing a jersey bearing an Israeli flag during a friendly game. “He is one of the greats of Iranian football” and “a symbol of pride for the Islamic Republic of Iran”, secretary-general Hassan Kamranifar said in a statement on the federation’s website. Ultraconservative lawmakers had lambasted the veteran player after he wore a jersey featuring the flags of all FIFA member countries, including Israel, during a friendly match in Qatar on December 17. Iran does…