.jpg "Iranian actor Jamshid Mashayekhi in an undated photo")
TEHRAN -- The veteran Iranian actor Jamshid Mashayekhi will travel to Spain or Argentine on a special assignment by Esteghlal, a major football club in Tehran, to visit Lionel Messi to placate the Argentinean football superstar over the abusive Facebook comments from Iranians following the World Cup draw, the club announced on Tuesday.
Messi was the subject of thousands of insulting messages after the 2014 World Cup draw grouped Iran with Argentina on December 6.
“What happened over the past week made me deeply sad,” Mashayekhi said after undertaking the assignment, which was proposed by Esteghlal Managing Director Ali Fat’hollahzadeh.
He added that he will travel to the Spanish city ‘as a cultural ambassador to convey Iranians’ message of friendship to the great football player.’
Esteghlal has entered into talks to arrange the meeting. Fat’hollahzadeh is scheduled accompany Mashayekhi during the journey.
The 79-year-old Mashayekhi called 90, a popular Iranian TV program about football, last week and asked Iranian officials to invite Messi to Iran to mollify him.
“I apologize to Messi… and kiss him,” he said in the phone call.
Last week, Iranian Football Federation President Ali Kaffashian also officially apologized to Messi over the Facebook messages.
“On behalf of the IFF and the family of Iran football, I apologize to Messi. Let me know when his birthday is because I want to send him a gift,” he stated.
MMS/YAW
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