Photo: Screenshot of Weibo video

The Iranian embassy in China refuted Western media reports saying that an Iranian football player was facing execution for "campaigning for women's rights," saying the player had committed murder and had already been kicked out of the national team.

Recently, some Western media outlets, including CNBC and the Daily Mail, reported that Amir Nasr-Azadani, an Iranian footballer, had been given the death sentence for "campaigning for women's rights" in his country, as the player reportedly supported the recent protests in the country.

The global player's union FIFPRO said on Twitter on Tuesday that "FIFPRO is shocked and sickened by reports that professional footballer Amir Nasr-Azadani faces execution in Iran after campaigning for women's rights and basic freedom in his country," the union said on Twitter.

"We stand in solidarity with Amir and call for the immediate removal of his punishment," the union said.

But the Iranian embassy in China said on China's Twitter-like platform Sina Weibo that it is rumor that the player was sentenced to death for "campaigning for women's rights."

Nasr-Azadani was sentenced for murder as he and several others killed a colonel and two policemen on November 16, said the embassy. It also said people are creating hype by using Nasr-Azadani's identity as player. But he was kicked out of the team long before the protests.

It caused avid discussion on Chinese social media, with overwhelming criticism toward the Western media for concocting rumors about certain countries. "It is not the first time the Western media has fabricated rumors to throw mud at some countries. China is also often the target. Can somebody please rein the media in a little?" asked a Sina Weibo user.

"After so many years, the Western media's graft and transplant technique in making fake news has never changed," said another Weibo user.

Global Times