Spanish club backs Afghan futsal player after controversial exclusion
Kabul | Nirvana Ebram
Mehran Gholami, a prominent Afghan futsal player, has said he was excluded from the national futsal team due to his criticism and for speaking openly about internal issues.
Commenting on his omission, Gholami said:
“I was dropped because I spoke the truth and criticized certain matters. I wanted to play for the national team, but my dignity and integrity were more important.”
Meanwhile, the Spanish club where Gholami currently plays has issued a statement expressing support for the player and questioning the decision to leave him out of Afghanistan’s squad.
The club stated:
“We do not understand how Afghanistan could leave out a player of Gholami’s level from the AFC Futsal Asian Cup. This decision is truly difficult to comprehend. He was even left alone in Iran, and we personally transferred him to Spain. We stand with Mehran Gholami.”
Background
Gholami’s exclusion from the national futsal team has sparked widespread reaction among fans and within futsal circles. The public backing from his Spanish club has renewed debate over transparency, management practices, and the treatment of key players within Afghanistan’s national futsal setup.