Iran Striker Sardar Retires From Team at 23 After Online Insults
Moscow, June 28 : Iranian striker Sardar Azmoun has announced his retirement from international football at the age of just 23 citing his mother's health as the main reason.
Azmoun was Iran's top scorer in qualifying for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, with 11 goals in 14 matches. But the player who has been dubbed the 'Iranian Messi' failed to score as Iran were knocked out of the group stage with a win, a defeat and a draw in their three Group B games, reports Xinhua news agency.
Iran managed to score just two goals (an own goal and a penalty) in the process. His lack of goals saw him become the target of disgruntled fans, which Azmoun says upset his mother so much it affected her health.
"Playing in my national team has been a great honour for me and I will be proud of myself to the end of my days," he said on social media, adding that "unfortunately... I have come to the decision to say goodbye to my national team."
"This is one of the most painful and significant life decisions for a youth of 23, who faced great hardships to get here," added Azmoun.
The striker plays his club football for Russia side Rubin Kazan, although it is thought he has offers to play next season either in England or Spain.
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In biggest haul, drugs worth Rs 51 cr seized in Meghalaya, 2 held
Shillong (PTI): The Meghalaya Police seized drugs worth over Rs 51 crore, the biggest haul of narcotics in the state so far, in East Jaintia Hills district and arrested two Mizoram-based persons in this connection, a senior officer said on Saturday.
The seizure was made during a coordinated naka-checking conducted by the police and Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) personnel in the Ratacherra area on Friday, he said.
During the operation, a vehicle with three persons, including the driver, on board was intercepted and searched in accordance with due legal procedures.
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Upon checking, 19 plastic soap cases, containing suspected heroin weighing 203.7 grams, were recovered from the possession of one of the three persons, the officer said.
The search of the vehicle led to the recovery of a blue-coloured trolley bag belonging to another occupant of the vehicle.
Suspected crystal meth (methamphetamine) tablets weighing 10.145 kilograms were found in the bag, the police officer said.
'Meth' tablets are banned in India.
Two of the three occupants of the vehicle were arrested, and a preliminary investigation suggested that they are part of an interstate and cross-border drug trafficking syndicate, the officer said.
"The total value of the seized contraband is estimated to be around Rs 51.13 crore", ANTF chief Vikash Kumar told PTI.
The arrested persons hail from Mizoram, he said.
A case has been registered at the ANTF police station, and an investigation is underway to establish the forward and backward linkages related to the seizure, the officer added.
