Iranian coach accused of sexually assaulting teenagers faces retrial, death sentence overturned

Iran’s Supreme Court has overturned the death sentence against a football coach accused of sexually abusing eight boys. After winning an appeal, a new trial is now set to begin.

The 40-year-old defendant was found guilty of attacking several teenage boys under the pretext of giving football lessons. A court in Tehran sentenced him to death last year.

The boys, aged 12 and 13, said the coach lured them to his house for soccer practice. Victims claim he forced them to have sex with each other and then filmed and blackmailed them, according to Iranian media.

The father of one of the students reported the trainer to the police and explained: “Shortly after registering my son, I noticed that his behavior had changed. He had become aggressive, nervous and withdrawn.

“After following the story with my wife, my son revealed a terrible secret that shocked us: the coach took him to his home and abused him there.”

Following the first complaint, seven other people reported similar experiences with the abuser.

In court, the coach denied any wrongdoing. However, the Tehran judges found him guilty of rape and sentenced him to death. A lawyer for the defendant appealed the court’s decision on the grounds that he had not committed rape but had admitted to sexual abuse. The Supreme Court of Iran then overturned the death sentence and the defendant will now be tried again.