Prominent football star dies of COVID-19 at 45

Iran's Sports Minister Massoud Soltanifar in his message termed Minavand's demise "a great shock for the sports community" and said he was an ambassador of Iranian football overseas. Mahmoud Vaezi, Iranian president's chief of staff, said the coronavirus pandemic has "snatched another important and popular face" while extending condolences over his death. Minavand, who kicked off his eventful sporting career in 1994 with Tehran-based Pas football club, later shot to prominence during his stint with Iran's top football team Persepolis.