SWEDISH GOALKEEPER FLEES IRAN AFTER START OF BOMBINGS

 HAMBURG, March 4 (Bernama-dpa) — Goalkeeper Marko Johansson said he fled Iran, where he played at Tabriz-based club Tractor, for his native Sweden as soon as the air attacks of the United States and Israel against the country began on Saturday, the German Press Agency (dpa) reported.

“It was very clear that we should leave the country immediately,” Johansson told Germany's Bild paper.

The former SV Hamburg, Bochum and Hansa Rostock player said Tractor were preparing for an Asian Champions League match against Dubai club Shabab Al-Ahli when the conflict started.

"I met for breakfast with the club's other foreign players on Saturday morning. One of them suddenly said that Tehran had been attacked. Instead of one bag for Dubai I packed two bags," he said.

Leaving the country became a concrete decision when a military base not far from the training centre was hit.

"We were sitting in the hotel on the training grounds when suddenly there was a huge bang. The whole building shook. We jumped up in fright and didn't know where to go," Johansson said.

He said the club provided a car within minutes for the foreign players to be driven to the Turkish border. Tractor also has four Croatian, an Albanian and a Serbian player.

"The ride took five hours, and during it we saw the Iranians prepare missiles for the retaliatory strike," he said.

Johansson said he is now back in Gothenburg with his wife and daughter, but that his thoughts are with the people in Iran.

"I am in contact with many of them. I hope the conflict ends soon," he said.

— BERNAMA-DPA