Iranian footballer among fair play award nominees

MNA – LAUSANNE, Iranian football striker Amin Motevasselzadeh has been chosen among the five top nominees for the 2010 World Fair Play Award.

The current Rah Ahan striker will vie with the four other candidates for the award. Motevasselzadeh had deliberately kicked the ball out to pause the game when he saw the rival’s keeper was injured.  He ignored the empty net and upheld fair play values by doing that.

The ceremony will be held at the Beau-Rivage Palace Hotel in the Swiss Olympic city of Lausanne on January 27, 2011. The International Sports Press Association (AIPS) together with the International Committee for Fair Play (CIFP) will recognize a number of local and international heroes at a gala awards ceremony which will be attended by International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge.

“I will travel to Lausanne to attend the ceremony. Contrary to the negative atmosphere surrounding Iran’s football, I can show it is positive,” Motevasselzadeh said.

Nominations are as follows:
Konyaspor Club – Football, Turkey
Gordan McCauley – Coach, Cycling, New Zealand
Assali Othman – Coach of Ziane Achour University Center in Djelfa, Volleyball, Algeria
Rodrigo Pessoa – Equestrian, Brazil
Amin Motevasselzadeh – Football, Iran