Iran star explains ‘gun gesture’ celebration at | Sports News

Iranian soccer star Mohammad Mohebi has moved to clear up any misunderstanding surrounding his post-goal celebration.

With Iran trailing New Zealand 2-1 within the second half, Mohebi proved to be the catalyst his staff desperately needed. Receiving a cross into the box, he coolly outjumped his defender, directing a header off the post and into the online to equalize within the sixty fourth minute in Los Angeles — his first aim of the 2026 World Cup.

Following the strike, the ahead appeared to mime firing a gun towards the stands, which have been full of Iranian supporters, together with those that defied FIFA’s specific warnings by smuggling banned flags into the venue. Elsewhere at the World Cup, USA carried out a visa U-turn on 4 Iranians as 11 World Cup members nonetheless denied, and an Iran star despatched a message to Donald Trump amid World Cup considerations

After touchdown from a temporary soar, Mohebi prolonged his proper thumb, index finger, and center finger, pointing them downward whereas urgent his left index and center fingers into the crease of his proper arm — a gesture that resembled firing an imaginary weapon at the group, prompting widespread response on social media.

“Iran player Mohammad Mohebi scores and immediately does the finger-gun shooting celebration towards the crowd in the USA. insane Balls,” one fan posted on X. Another added: “Iranian player Mohebi really did the gun shooting celebration at the USA crowd – This is next level of trolling.”, reviews The Mirror US.

In the wake of the controversy ignited by his actions, Mohebi addressed reporters after the ultimate whistle, offering an clarification for the gesture and insisting his actions have been nothing more than spontaneous celebrations. “First of all, I wanted to say thank you to all the supporters that come, the Iranians who live in Los Angeles, they make a great atmosphere in the game,” Mohebi started, “and that celebration just, it comes to mind and I do it like this, you know, and I wanted to do like this for all the fans and just a celebration, you know, and yeah, like this.”

Mohebi wasn’t the one Iranian participant to spark controversy following a aim. When Ramin Rezaeian netted what was then the equalizer within the thirty second minute, he shielded his face as he sprinted towards the closest supporters.

Reflecting on that second, Rezaeian said: “This is special, some special happiness, because I don’t want to see the board when I, this is something political, you know, I don’t want to talk about that. We are here to answer football questions. If there is a problem between us (the Iranian people), it is between us.”

Despite the eye Mohebi’s celebration attracted, the standout participant conceded that whereas the match itself was important, he and his teammates have been removed from happy about being compelled to depart Los Angeles instantly after the sport to return to Mexico, their World Cup headquarters.

“Yesterday we came, start the trip, I think at morning, and we arrive at afternoon and direct go to the training,” he stated. “We get tired, you know. I think supposed to be, we came here two days before the game. This is, this kind of things I think is not a little bit fair, you know, because we need to get fair competitive, you know.”

Iran is scheduled to face Belgium at the Los Angeles Stadium on June 21, marking its second World Cup match.