Iran’s Amin Motevasselzadeh wins World Fair Play Trophy

MNA – TEHRAN, Amin Motevasselzadeh has won the Pierre de Coubertin World Fair Play Trophy on Thursday night.

The Iranian striker won the prize for his outstanding act of sportsmanship during an Iranian football match in January 2010.

Moghavemat Sepasi striker 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.

“For a few minutes the supporters were confused and then they started chanting my name,” he said.

“The manager was not angry with me because in our culture, these things are very important. For us we believe that doing something with fair play is more important even than scoring goals or winning a medal. Nobody was angry with me.”