Iran to oust tattooed players from national football team

Tattooed players will have no place on the Iranian National football team, Tehran Times reported on Monday.

"The Iranian Football Federation has been told it must prevent inviting tattooed players to the National team," the report said.

The Ethics Committee of Iran's Football Federation had previously issued repeated warnings to players to cover their tattoos on the playground, describing having a tattoo as unprofessional.

Iranian players who have tattoos on their arms, always enter the stadiums wearing long-sleeved tops, but change into short-sleeved shirts before stepping onto the pitch.

Iran considers athletes to be role models responsible for promoting "Islamic values" to the younger generation.

Iranian state media often refer tattoos as a symbol of "Westernization" or part of a Western "cultural invasion" of Islamic society.

"Tattoos on the bodies of players is against Iranian culture and is detrimental to our society," a top official said, according to Tehran Times.