Mohammadi, who had represented his country on the international stage, was executed on Thursday alongside two other Iranian citizens, Mehdi Ghasemi and Saeed Davoudi, following a controversial judicial process linked to anti-government protests earlier this year.

Iranian authorities allege that the three men were responsible for the killing of two police officers during demonstrations in the city of Qom on 8 January. According to official accounts, the incident formed part of a coordinated violent response during a period of heightened social tension.

Allegations of Forced Confessions and Unfair Trial

Human rights organisations have strongly disputed the official narrative, describing the trial as deeply flawed.

Groups including Amnesty International and Iran Human Rights claim Mohammadi was denied adequate legal defence and forced to confess under coercion. They also allege that the court dismissed claims of torture and ignored the athlete’s retraction of his confession.

Critics argue that the case failed to meet basic standards of due process, citing lack of credible evidence, restricted access to independent legal counsel, and limited avenues for appeal.

Athletes ‘Targeted’ in Crackdown

The execution has intensified fears that athletes are increasingly being targeted in Iran’s broader crackdown on dissent.

Iranian activist and athlete Nima Far described Mohammadi’s death as “a blatant political murder,” alleging it forms part of a pattern aimed at intimidating society and silencing influential public figures.

The case has drawn comparisons to the 2020 execution of wrestler Navid Afkari, which also sparked global outrage and highlighted the risks faced by athletes involved in protest movements.

IOC Responds Amid Calls for Action

The International Olympic Committee expressed concern over reports of mistreatment of athletes but emphasised the limits of its authority.

In a statement, the IOC noted that it is “very difficult to comment” on individual cases without verified information and stressed that, as a non-governmental organisation, it cannot influence the laws or political systems of sovereign nations.

The body added that it would continue engaging through “quiet sports diplomacy,” though activists have criticised the approach as insufficient.

Growing International Concern

Mohammadi’s execution reportedly took place just hours after the United States Department of State called for a suspension of the sentence—an appeal that was not heeded.

The incident has reignited debate over the use of capital punishment in Iran, particularly in cases linked to political unrest. Human rights groups warn of a rise in executions following mass arrests during recent protests, with thousands reportedly detained.

Reports also indicate that several athletes across different sports—including football, boxing, athletics and wrestling—remain in detention, further deepening concerns within the global sporting community.

Mohammadi, a bronze medallist at the 2024 Saytiyev Cup in Russia, had maintained his innocence during trial proceedings, stating he was elsewhere at the time of the alleged crime. His defence was ultimately rejected by the court.

His death is now being viewed as more than a legal case—it has become a symbol of the intersection between sport, politics and human rights.

As international pressure mounts, the execution underscores a troubling reality: for some athletes, representing their country on the global stage does not shield them from the consequences of political dissent.

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“While we would like to ​keep the circumstances private, please know that he was surrounded by his family and was at peace,” the statement read.

The six-time undefeated World Professional Middleweight ‌Karate Champion, whose tough-guy image inspired satirical “facts” that made him an Internet phenomenon, had been hospitalised in Hawaii on Thursday, Variety reported.

Norris starred in more than two dozen films portraying silent loners, soldiers, lawmen, veterans and All-American heroes who captured criminals, released prisoners of war, rescued hostages and battled terrorists.

With his roundhouse kicks he fought martial arts icon Bruce Lee in Rome’s Colosseum in his 1973 film debut “The Way of ​the Dragon.” Along with actor Sylvester Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Bruce Willis he helped defeat villain Jean-Claude Van Damme in the 2012 blockbuster “The Expendables 2.”

Time magazine described ​him as “the ultimate tough guy.”

“In his strictly wham-bam B-movie genre, Norris, a former karate champion, has become the undisputed superstar,” it said in ⁠1985.

Norris dodged bullets, landed kicks squarely on an opponent’s jaw and dismissed multiple villains at a time in his action-packed films.

His macho image made him a hit at the ​box office and on the small screen. From 1993 to 2001, he played Sergeant Cordell Walker, an upstanding lawman, former Marine and martial arts expert in “Walker, Texas Ranger.”

The bearded actor, writer ​and producer became an online cult hero in 2005 when an American student created what became Chuck Norris Facts, online jokes about the actor’s physical prowess and masculinity that became a viral sensation and inspired several books.

Among the most popular were “Chuck Norris has a mug of nails instead of coffee in the morning” and “Chuck Norris doesn’t do push-ups; he pushes the Earth down.”

AN UNLIKELY TOUGH GUY

Carlos Ray Norris was born ​on March 10, 1940 in Ryan, Oklahoma, the oldest of three brothers. The family moved to California after his parents divorced.

He was extremely quiet and introverted, which he attributed ​to his father’s alcoholism and the family’s poverty.

“In school I was shy and inhibited,” Norris wrote in his 2004 memoir “Against All Odds: My Story.” “If the teacher asked me to recite something aloud in front ‌of the ⁠class, I would just shake my head no.”

Norris was also not a natural athlete. He had to train remarkably hard to become a martial arts champion, he said. After graduating from school, he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 1958. While stationed in South Korea, he learned Tang Soo Do, a form of karate, and other martial arts.

The future film star started teaching martial arts in California after his discharge. He also won major competitions. Actor Steve McQueen, who was one of Norris’ students, encouraged him to try acting.

“He told me ​that I should think about projecting a presence, ​and never do a part that ⁠had a lot of dialogue,” Norris told the New York Times in a 1985 interview.

“He told me, ‘Movies are visual, and when you try to verbalize something, you’re going to lose the audience.'”

Norris’ films grossed millions and made him a popular figure among the U.S. military. He ​visited Iraq in 2006 and 2007 to show his support for American troops.

In 1990, he founded his own martial arts discipline, Chun ​Kuk Do, and established ⁠the nonprofit organization, Kickstart Kids, to teach children martial arts and self-esteem.

A patriot, Conservative and devout Christian, he worked with the National Rifle Association (NRA) and was a contributor to WorldNetDaily, a far-right news and aggregator website.

In addition to his best-selling memoir, Norris published “The Secret of Inner Strength – My Story,” his guide to self-improvement, as well as several books on fitness and martial arts and ⁠two novels – 2006’s “The ​Justice Riders” and its sequel, “A Threat to Justice.”

He was married twice and had five children.

Norris defended his films ​to critics who claimed they promoted violence. If they are well written, he said, action films can tell a story as effectively as any drama or romance.

“It’s how it’s done. I don’t advocate violence for violence’s sake,” ​he told the Los Angeles Times in 1994. “What people hang on to is that the good guy wins in the end.”

-ReutersTop of Form

Chuck Norris starred in “Walker, Texas Ranger” from 1993 to 2001. Courtesy CBS 

-Reuters

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Nwosu reportedly died in a Lagos hospital in the early hours of Saturday, bringing to an end the life of one of Nigeria’s most gifted midfielders and a revered figure in the nation’s football history.

Widely regarded as one of the finest left-sided midfielders of his era, Nwosu rose to prominence as the youngest member of the Green Eagles squad that won Nigeria’s first Africa Cup of Nations title in 1980 at the age of 17. He later featured prominently in the teams that reached the AFCON finals in 1984 and 1988.

Reacting to the news, Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) General Secretary Dr Mohammed Sanusi described the death as a painful loss for Nigerian football, coming only days after the passing of former NFF Technical Director and two-time Super Eagles coach Chief Adegboye Onigbinde.

“This is another very sad news, even as we are still mourning the demise of Chief Onigbinde,” Sanusi said. Nigeria football can never forget the enormous contributions of Henry Nwosu both as a player and a coach. We pray that God will grant him eternal rest, and also grant the family he has left behind, as well as friends and relations, the fortitude to bear the loss.”

One of Nwosu’s most memorable moments came on April 25, 1981, when the then 18-year-old scored a spectacular long-range goal against Guinea in a FIFA World Cup qualifying match. The strike, fired from the edge of the penalty area late in the game, secured Nigeria’s progression to the final round of the qualifiers against Algeria.

Beyond the famous 1980 AFCON triumph on home soil, Nwosu was instrumental in Nigeria’s journeys to the championship matches of the 1984 and 1988 tournaments. In both finals, Nigeria faced Cameroon—losing 3–1 in Abidjan in 1984 and suffering a narrow and controversial defeat in Casablanca four years later, when a first-half header by Nwosu was ruled out by Mauritanian referee Idrissa Sarr.

His passing means nine members of the historic 1980 AFCON-winning squad have now died, including goalkeepers Best Ogedegbe and Moses Effiong, defenders Tunde Bamidele, Okey Isima and Christian Chukwu, midfielders Mudashiru Lawal and Aloysius Atuegbu, and forward Martins Eyo.

At club level, Nwosu dazzled fans with his creativity, dribbling skills and vision while playing for New Nigerian Bank FC of Benin and ACB FC of Lagos, before later continuing his career in Côte d’Ivoire.

After hanging up his boots, he remained involved in the sport, working as a coach with several domestic clubs and contributing to the development of younger players.

His death marks the passing of another member of the golden generation that laid the foundation for Nigeria’s continental success in football.

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The news of his death was announced by his former teammate, Nigerian football legend Segun Odegbami, through his media platforms on Saturday.

According to Odegbami, Nwosu died at about 4:00 a.m. at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, where he had been receiving intensive medical care since Wednesday.

“Henry Nwosu passes on! After five days in hospital battling for his life, the one I call ‘Youngest Millionaire’ passed on at 4:00 am this morning at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja, Lagos, where he had been in intensive care since Wednesday,” Odegbami wrote.

“It is with deep pain in my heart that I have to be the conveyor of the news of the death of Henry Nwosu MON. May he rest peacefully with our Creator in Heaven.”

 Before him, other members of the squad that had passed on, were goalkeepers Best Ogedegbe and Moses Effiong, defenders, Christian Chukwu, Okechukwu Isima and Tunde Bamidele, midfielders Aloysius Atugbu and Mudashiru Lawal, and forward Martins Eyo.

Born in Imo State, Nwosu rose to prominence as a gifted midfielder known for his vision, creativity and technical skill. He was the youngest member of Nigeria’s victorious squad at the 1980 Africa Cup of Nations, where the then Green Eagles secured the country’s first continental title on home soil.

His performances during the tournament and in subsequent international appearances established him as one of the most exciting midfielders of his generation.

Beyond his international career, Nwosu was also a prominent figure in Nigerian domestic football, where he earned admiration for his intelligence on the ball and leadership on the field.

After retiring from active football, the former international remained deeply involved in the game, working as a coach and mentor to younger players while contributing to grassroots development.

Nwosu’s death comes just days after another major loss to Nigerian football. Former Super Eagles coach Adegboye Onigbinde, who led Nigeria to the 2002 FIFA World Cup, died on March 9 at the age of 88.

Both Nwosu and Onigbinde were prominent figures in the Green Eagles set-up during the 1980s, with Onigbinde serving as head coach of the national team between 1982 and 1984.

Their passing within days of each other has deepened the sense of loss within Nigeria’s football fraternity, as tributes continue to pour in for two men who made lasting contributions to the country’s football history.

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Late Nigerian football tactician Adegboye Onigbinde left behind many legacies in the country’s game, but one of his most enduring contributions was the popular identity he gave to Shooting Stars Sports Club — the famous 3SC.

The former Nigeria national football team coach, who died on Monday at the age of 88, is widely credited with coining the abbreviation that has since become synonymous with the Ibadan-based club.

During his early years with the club, Onigbinde observed that the team’s name, Shooting Stars Sports Club, was often shortened in different ways in newspapers and football discussions. Seeking a simple and distinctive identity, he adopted the initials 3SC, representing the three words that make up the club’s name.

The abbreviation quickly gained acceptance among supporters, journalists and football administrators, eventually becoming the club’s official shorthand and a powerful brand in Nigerian football.

Over the years, the name 3SC has become inseparable from the club’s identity, appearing on jerseys, official documents and stadium chants from fans at the Liberty Stadium in Ibadan.

Shooting Stars is one of Nigeria’s most historic clubs and a dominant force during the golden era of Nigerian club football in the 1970s and 1980s. The team won several domestic titles and achieved continental glory when it lifted the African Cup Winners’ Cup in 1976 — becoming one of the earliest Nigerian clubs to win a major African trophy.

Onigbinde himself played a key role in shaping the club’s football philosophy and youth development culture during his association with the team.

Beyond club football, he later went on to coach the national team, guiding the then Green Eagles to the final of the 1984 Africa Cup of Nations and later leading Nigeria to the 2002 FIFA World Cup, where he became the first indigenous coach to take the country to the global tournament.

While his achievements with the national team are widely celebrated, many football followers also remember him for giving Shooting Stars a unique identity that has endured for decades.

Today, long after the coach first coined it, the simple abbreviation 3SC remains one of the most recognisable symbols in Nigerian club football — a reminder of Onigbinde’s lasting imprint on the game.

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Another pall of grief descended on Nigeria’s sporting community on Monday night with the passing of veteran football tactician Adegboye Onigbinde, who died at the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex, just a short distance from his ancestral home in Modakeke, Osun State.

His death came amid a sombre period for Nigerian sport, following closely on the heels of the passing of Chamberlain Nnamdi Dunkwu as well as two respected sports journalists, Niyi Oyeleke and Tonex Chukwu.

For Onigbinde, football was not merely a profession—it was the defining passion of his adult life. Over several decades, he served the game in Nigeria and beyond as a coach, administrator and mentor, leaving an enduring imprint on the country’s football development.

In an interview with Sports Village Square in 2022, the late coach traced the turning point of his career to a chance encounter in the early 1960s with Nigeria’s legendary footballer Teslim Balogun.

Onigbinde regarded Balogun—popularly known as “Thunder”—as the greatest footballer Nigeria had ever produced.

According to him, it was Balogun who set him on the path to coaching.

“I was a Grade III teacher when he spotted me in Ife and advised me to take up football,” Onigbinde recalled. “Coincidentally, I went to Ibadan to do my Grade Two Teachers’ Course at St. Luke’s College in 1961 and became the captain of the team.”

Dateline: Liberty Stadium, Ibadan. 16 July 1961: Chief Onigbinde, arrowed,  and the early generation of Nigerian coaches. On the far right is the legendary Tesilimi Balogun. On the far left is Moshe Jerry Beit haLevi, the Israeli national coach of Nigeria.

That moment would prove decisive.

At the time, Balogun, working alongside the national team coach Moshe-Jerry Beit haLevi, organised a Grade B coaching course under the Western Regional Council of the Nigeria Football Association.

The course took place at the iconic Liberty Stadium—now known as Obafemi Awolowo Stadium—from June 26 to July 16, 1961.

Among those trained were several individuals who would later shape Nigerian football, including Onigbinde, Niyi Akande, Ayo Adeniji and Godwin Etemeke.

Onigbinde continued his professional development years later when he participated in another coaching programme organised by Balogun in March 1969. Among the participants in that course was Yinka Okeowo, who would later serve as secretary of the Nigeria Football Association.

With those formative experiences, Onigbinde found his lifelong vocation.

He began coaching in the then Western Region, travelling from school to school and from town to town to impart football knowledge to young players.

His early club career included managing the now-defunct Water Corporation FC of Ibadan before he rose to prominence with Shooting Stars Sports Club, one of Nigeria’s most historic clubs.

Under his guidance, the Ibadan-based side reached the final of the 1984 African Cup of Champions Clubs, a major milestone in the club’s continental journey.

The same year, Onigbinde also led the national team—then known as the Green Eagles—to the final of the 1984 Africa Cup of Nations, where Nigeria finished runners-up.

His career later extended beyond Nigeria’s borders. In the early 2000s, he worked as a technical instructor and youth coach with the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association, helping to develop the country’s under-17 programme.

He left that position in late 2001 after assembling a promising youth squad that competed against local professional teams.

Shortly afterwards, he returned to Nigeria to take charge of the national team and led the Nigeria national football team to the 2002 FIFA World Cup, becoming the first indigenous coach to guide the country to the global tournament.

Beyond trophies and statistics, colleagues and players remember Onigbinde as a disciplinarian, a thinker and a committed teacher of the game.

For a man whose journey began as a classroom teacher and was transformed by a chance encounter with a football legend, his life story became inseparable from the development of Nigerian football itself.

With his passing, Nigerian sport loses not only a pioneer coach but also a living bridge to an earlier era when the foundations of the country’s football culture were being laid.

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His death was confirmed in a statement issued on behalf of the family by Mrs Bolade Adesuyi, who disclosed that the veteran football tactician had been ill for some time.

Onigbinde, one of Nigeria’s most respected football administrators and coaches, first took charge of the national team in 1983, succeeding Brazilian coach Otto Gloria. During his tenure, he led the then Green Eagles to the final of the 1984 Africa Cup of Nations, where Nigeria finished runners-up.

Nearly two decades later, Onigbinde etched his name further into Nigerian football history when he became the first indigenous coach to lead the national team to the 2002 FIFA World Cup. He guided the Nigeria national football team to the tournament co-hosted by Japan and South Korea.

Widely respected for his discipline, tactical knowledge and commitment to youth development, Onigbinde remained an influential voice in Nigerian football long after his coaching career.

Further details regarding funeral arrangements are expected to be announced by the family in due course.

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Their passing has triggered tributes from colleagues across the country who remember them as dedicated professionals who made meaningful contributions to sports journalism and football administration.

Oyeleke’s Legacy in Broadcast Sports Journalism

Oyeleke, a former chairman of the Lagos chapter of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria, was widely respected for his work in broadcast sports journalism.

During his career, he worked with the Nigerian Television Authority, where he was part of the network’s sports reporting team, before later contributing to coverage on SuperSport.

As Lagos SWAN chairman, Oyeleke was known for his efforts to strengthen the professional standing of sports journalists and promote unity within the association.

Colleagues recall him as a calm, thoughtful voice within the sports media fraternity, always willing to mentor younger journalists entering the profession.

Chukwu Remembered in Nigerian Club Football

Tonex Chukwu, who also passed away, built a strong reputation within Nigerian club football circles, particularly through his work as media officer of Enyimba FC, one of the country’s most successful teams.

He later served as coordinator for Heartland FC, contributing to the organisation and administration of the club during his tenure.

Friends and colleagues describe Chukwu as a passionate football communicator who played an important role in bridging the relationship between clubs, supporters and the media.

Tributes Pour In

News of their deaths has prompted an outpouring of grief across Nigeria’s sports community, with journalists, club officials and administrators remembering both men for their commitment to the game.

Many have taken to social media and professional platforms to honour their memories and reflect on the impact they made within the industry.

As tributes continue to flow, colleagues say the legacies of Oyeleke and Chukwu will endure through the many journalists and football professionals whose careers and lives they touched.

The Nigerian sports community has also extended heartfelt condolences to their families, friends and loved ones during this difficult period.

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Hosts Ivory Coast were sensationally beaten 4-0 by minnows Equatorial Guinea in their last group game at the 2023 edition in the biggest upset in tournament history, finishing third in their group.

Gasset was dismissed after the shock defeat but the Ivorians earned a reprieve as one of the best third placed finishers to qualify for the knockout rounds and eventually won the title under Gasset’s assistant Emerse Fae.

One month after returning to France, Gasset was appointed coach at Olympique de Marseille but stayed for only four months.

He went back to Montpellier last season but when they were headed for relegation, he was sacked in April.

Gasset spent most of his playing career at Montpellier, where his father had been one of the club founders.

The cause of death was not given.

Reuters

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Okolie, a respected journalist and administrator, died over the weekend. Until his death, he served as the Media Director of the Enugu-based NPFL side and previously chaired the Enugu State chapter of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN). He was also a member of the association’s national council.

In a condolence statement, NPFL Media Director Harry Iwuala paid tribute to Okolie’s professionalism and dedication, noting that he was one of the most outstanding media officers in the league.

“I have worked and am still working with NPFL clubs’ Media Directors, and Norbert was one of the few who distinguished himself in the way he engaged the public, especially the sporting media, on behalf of his club,” Iwuala said.

He added that Okolie’s background as a photojournalist enriched his work and elevated the quality of media content produced for the club, the league, and the wider public.

Iwuala extended heartfelt condolences to Okolie’s family, Rangers International, the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria, and members of the NPFL Media Directors Association.

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