(euronews) -- Iran does not recognise the state of Israel and has historically forbidden its athletes from competing against Israelis at international sporting events.
In a clip of the match shared by Iranian sports website, tarafdari.com, a man’s voice can be heard telling Karimi “Bayad bebazi,” which translates to “you have to lose”. Soon after, the fight is shortly interrupted by the wrestler who goes to speak with a man who appears to be his trainer and returns to lose the match 3-14.
The Iranian Wrestling Federation issued a statement praising the Karimi’s decision to lose.
Calling Karimi a “hero”, the federation said it was the second time that the wrestler “stood against the oppression of the Palestinian people” at an international sporting event.