Iranian authorities have jailed former national men's soccer team goalkeeper Mohammad Rashid Mazaheri after he published a social media post sharply criticizing supreme leader Ali Khamenei. The judiciary confirmed his detention, stating he was arrested while allegedly attempting to cross the western border illegally, while his wife said he is being held in harsh solitary confinement in Urmia.

Mazaheri, who was part of Iran's squad for the 2018 World Cup and played for several top domestic clubs, had described Khamenei as 'only a dark and passing chapter' in Iran's history in a post that was later deleted. The comments followed mass protests in January and a deadly crackdown by security forces.

His arrest comes amid increased scrutiny of prominent soccer figures in Iran. Authorities recently seized assets linked to former national team captain Ali Karimi, now living in exile, and previously arrested player Voria Ghafouri during nationwide protests in 2022.