Karimi fined, returns to training

AFC – TEHRAN, Iranian footballer star Ali Karimi, who was sacked by his club for not fasting during the holy month of Ramadan, returned to practice on Wednesday, a report said.

Iran’s ILNA news agency said Karimi had agreed to pay the fine of around 40,000 dollars levied by his club, Steel Azin FC.

“I respect the ruling of the club’s disciplinary committee,” ILNA quoted Karimi as saying.

The committee found Karimi guilty of disrespecting Iran’s football federation and the club’s supervisor as well as not fasting during a training session on August 12, the club said on its website late Tuesday.

Speaking to state television, Steel Azin president Hossein Hedayati welcomed the move to reinstate Karimi as he hailed him as a “national treasure.”

Karimi, 31, had earlier denied any wrongdoing and insisted he has always heeded religious values, especially during Ramadan.

The Iranian national team’s second most capped player and third-highest scorer, Karimi had a two-year stint in the Bundesliga, scoring four goals in 50 appearances for Bayern Munich.