Iran futsal star Masoumi dies [VIDEO]

AFC – TEHRAN, Six-time winner of AFC Futsal Championship and former Iran captain Babak Masoumi died from blood cancer on Wednesday.

The 39-year-old, who was diagnosed with blood cancer in 2008, played a key role in Iran’s AFC Futsal Championship victories in 1999, 2000, 2003, 2004 2005 and 2007. He also played in the FIFA Futsal World Cups in 2000 and 2004.

Masoumi started his futsal career in 1995 from Fath Tehran before moving to Pas four years later. He joined Tam Iran Khodro in 2006 for a year before taking to coaching.

He coached Persepolis and Steel Azin futsal teams. He was the head coach of Dabiri Tabriz FSC at the time of his death.

AFC Acting President Zhang Jilong has condoled the death of Masoumi.

“On behalf of AFC and the Asian football family, I would like to offer my sincere condolences to Masoumi’s family, friends and the Iranian futsal community,” he said.

“It is a great loss to Asian and Iranian futsal in particular because during his playing days he established Iran as a force to reckon with in the continent.”