Taliban spokesman: Anything against Islam will not be accepted
An Afghan footballer fears there will be FIFA sanctions for his country after the Taliban recaptured Kabul after 20 years in exile. Taliban insurgents stormed the capital on Sunday with little resistance and have now installed themselves in the presidential palace.
The Taliban stormed Kabul on Sunday (Image: GETTY)
"I hope the Taliban in power don't get involved with the Afghan Football Federation (AFF), because that would mean a FIFA sanction and we don't want that,” he told Marca under the condition of anonymity.
"My family and I just want to live in a peaceful and quiet place and, unfortunately, we can only find that abroad.
"Here, nobody can promise us these simple conditions. I'm not asking for a limousine.
"I have a wife and 15 days ago she gave birth to my beautiful daughter. Her future is what's most important for me right now.
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"I want for her to not have to see these kinds of situations when she grows up in this country.
"I've lost 20,000 dollars in these days of war and I'm looking for 5,000 dollars to be able to travel with my family to Iran.
"The truth is that everything is calm and life goes on - for now. But our feelings aren't good and there is constant fear.
"Last week nobody dared to go out to the street. But now people are resuming a life which is more or less normal.
There is fear in Afghanistan after the Taliban stormed Kabul on Sunday (Image: GETTY)
"In reality, what most worries me is the future of my baby girl.
"Right now in my city everything is in order under the control of the Taliban who haven't put any obstacles in the way of normal life for now."
The Afghanistan football team currently find themselves at number 153 in the FIFA world rankings. They were ranked as high as 122 in April 2014.
They currently sit fourth in Group E of the AFC section of the World Cup 2022 qualification stages and last played in June, where the side battled to a 1-1 draw against India.