Iranian police detain top footballers at New Year’s Eve party

Journalist Keyvan Samimi had issued a message from prison supporting the protest movement spawned by the death in custody of Mahsa Amini (pictured). Photograph: Social networks/Zuma Press Wire/Rex/Shutterstock

Iranian police briefly detained several top-tier football players in a raid on a New Year’s Eve party east of Tehran, where men and women allegedly mingled and alcohol was served in violation of an Islamic ban, according to Iranian media reports.

News of the brief arrests of the players, who were not identified, came as the release was announced of the Iranian dissident journalist Keyvan Samimi, who was jailed in December 2020 for “plotting against national security”.