Hereford's Maziar Kouyhar has been speaking about the problems in Afghanistan and how he would fear for his life if he returned to his homeland.
Kouyhar came to the UK with his parents when he was just two years old.
His father was a military officer in the Afghan army before the move. Later he returned to work for the UN, NATO and he helped teach British troops Afghanistan’s native Persian language.
"My dad is seen as a collaborator and every one of my family, including me, is under threat of being executed," Maziar told The Sun.
"We have relatives that are now in hiding.
"The Taliban are against the values of civilised people in 2021. Even if I was to wear shorts, they’d take issue.
"My dad got arrested before we fled because his beard wasn’t long enough!
"Three years ago I pulled out of the Afghanistan squad because the friendly against Palestine was in Kabul. It was too dangerous to risk going back because the Taliban have always been lurking about."
Whilst his father was working there, Kouykar visited his homeland twice.
"You could see real progress was being made – they had built hospitals, clinics, schools, roads and men and women could roam the streets freely and equally.
"Three of my aunties all had jobs. Now that’s under threat.”
As a child Kouhyar had to deal with racial abuse.
“We lived on a council estate and bigger kids down the park called me ‘P***’ and ‘a terrorist’ while also telling me, ‘to go back to your own country’.
“But it’s important to stress I never suffered anything like that at Coventry or Walsall, where everyone was welcoming. They respected me as a footballer.”
Kouyhar was in Hereford's squad at Wembley in the FA Trophy Final last May.
"I had immense pride thinking here I was, an Afghan refugee playing at the home of football.
"I had knee injuries which hampered me at Walsall – but now I am fully fit and want to get back into the EFL."
Read more at: https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/football/15927481/kouhyar-afghan-football-britain-killed-taliban-home/