MY NEW HERO
Omid Ebrahimi
Given the saber-rattling directed towards Iran by the Far Right these days, it’s good to provide a little bit of balance, lest we begin to believe that Iran is a hellhole populated by bloodthirsty mullahs and rigid Islamofascists. The reality, of course, is far different. Like America, Iran is about far more than merely politics and religion. Parents love their children and want to live in peace, security, and prosperity…in general, we’re more alike than we are different.
It should come as no surprise, then, that an Iranian soccer team is responsible for one of the most impressive acts of sportsmanship you’ll likely ever see.
It was a thoroughly forgettable Asian Champions League match (and aren’t they all?) between the UAE’s al-Nasr and Iran’s Sepahan. The second half had just begun with Sepahan up 1-0 when an al-Nasr player went down with an injury. A teammate booted the ball out of bounds so the medical staff could come onto the field and tend to the injured player. So far, so good.
Play resumed with a Sepahan playing throwing the ball in to an al-Nasr player, as is soccer custom. This is where things go off the rails.
The al-Nasr player didn’t realize the ball was live and made no effort to go after it. An alert Sepahan player gained possession of the ball, one thing led to another, and before anyone really knew what had happened, al-Nasr’s goalkeeper was called for a foul inside the 18-yard box. Because the foul occurred within the box, the referee issued a red card to the goalkeeper. Players from both teams attempted to explain to the referee that it had all been the result of a misunderstanding. Unfortunately, the referee would have none of it and instructed Sepahan to take their penalty kick posthaste. This is where our hero steps into the spotlight.
Ebrahimi stepped up to the penalty spot, approached the ball, and, instead of scoring what’s usually an automatic goal, he passed the ball to al-Nasr’s backup goalkeeper. Play continued on without controversy, and Sepahan scored two second-half goals to win 3-0. Except that the score is the least important part of this story. This is an example of what sportsmanship should be. A player recognizing that an injustice had been done and refusing to capitalize on it. When parents teach their children about the importance of sportsmanship, this video should be required viewing.
A WWJD tip of the hat goes out to Omid Ebrahimi and his teammates for reminding us what sportsmanship really is. Well done.
