Iran has banned two players from representing the national team after facing an Israeli club in the Europa League, a government spokesperson announced.
Iran captain Masoud Shojaei and midfielder Ehsan Haji Safi played for Greece's Panionios against Israeli outfit Maccabi Tel Aviv last week.
Even though they sat out the first leg of the Europa League qualifier in Israel, they featured in the 1-0 loss at home to Tel Aviv on August 3, which is still a violation of Iran's government policy.
"It is certain that Masoud Shojaei and Ehsan Haji Safi will never be invited to join the national football team because they violated the red line," Iran deputy sports minister Mohammad Reza Davarzani said on state television, via The New York Times.
"They have a financial contract with a club to be paid and play for that team, but to play with the representative of a loathsome regime… this is not acceptable for Iranian people."
Shojaei was instrumental in helping Iran secure a spot at the 2018 World Cup.
Shojaei was also ostracized in June when he asked Iran president Hassan Rouhani if women could enter the stadium to watch the team play.
