The People’s Champion: The Football Icon Who Sacrificed Everything to Defy a Regime

The personal cost of Karimi's stance has been staggering, yet he has not wavered. The Iranian government responded to his activism by seizing his home in northern Tehran and issuing warrants for his arrest, accusing him of inciting "riots." This state-led campaign to vilify him only served to bolster his reputation among the people. When the government labeled him "uncultured" or a "traitor," Karimi embraced the labels with a sense of pride, retorting that if being "cultured" meant staying silent while people were killed, he would gladly remain "uncultured." This sharp, fearless wit has made him a hero to the youth, who see him as one of the few elders who truly understands their plight.