{{Short description|Iranian footballer (1978–2026)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2026}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Mojtaba Tarshiz | image = | full_name = | birth_date = {{birth date|1978|3|26|df=y}} | birth_place = [[Qaemshahr]], Iran | death_date = {{death date and age|2026|1|8|1978|3|26|df=y}} | death_place = [[Andisheh]], Tehran, Iran | height = 1.73 m | position = [[Midfielder]] | youthyears1 = | youthclubs1 = | years1 = 2007–2009 | clubs1 = [[Esteghlal Ahvaz F.C.|Esteghlal Ahvaz]] | caps1 = 7 | goals1 = 0 | years2 = 2009–2011 | clubs2 = [[Tractor Sazi F.C.|Tractor Sazi]] | caps2 = 38 | goals2 = 0 | years3 = 2011–2013 | clubs3 = [[Mes Sarcheshmeh F.C.|Mes Sarcheshmeh]] | caps3 = 31 | goals3 = 2 | years4 = 2012–2013 | clubs4 = → [[Fajr Sepasi F.C.|Fajr Sepasi]] (loan) | caps4 = 30 | goals4 = 5<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://int.soccerway.com/players/mojtaba-tarshiz/124627/|title=Iran - M. Tarshiz - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway}}</ref> | years5 = 2013–2015 | clubs5 = [[Mes Kerman F.C.|Mes Kerman]] | caps5 = 32 | goals5 = 0 | years6 = 2015–2016 | clubs6 = [[Gostaresh Foulad F.C.|Gostaresh]] | caps6 = 16 | goals6 = 0 | totalcaps = 154 | totalgoals = 7 | nationalyears1 = 2009– | nationalteam1 = | nationalcaps1 = 0 | nationalgoals1 = 0 }}
'''Mojtaba Tarshiz'''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://iplstats.com/playersteam17.htm|title=Esteghlal KHU}}</ref> ({{Langx|fa|مجتبی ترشیز}}; 26 March 1978 – 8 January 2026) was an Iranian [[association football|football]]er who played in [[Iran's Premier Football League]].
==Career== Tarshiz joined [[Tractor Sazi F.C.|Tractor Sazi]] in 2009 after spending the previous two seasons at [[Esteghlal Ahvaz F.C.|Esteghlal Ahvaz]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.iranproleague.net/index.php/teams?id=88&view=player&sid=18 |title=Persian League- Latest Iran League News - Iran Football News - Iran Sport News - Mojtaba Tarshizi |website=www.iranproleague.net |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720185417/http://www.iranproleague.net/index.php/teams?id=88&view=player&sid=18 |archive-date=20 July 2011}}</ref> He played as a [[midfielder]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Who the ex Tractor player was and why his death shook Iran society |url=https://news.az/news/who-the-ex-tractor-player-was-and-why-his-death-shook-iran-society |access-date=2026-01-21 |website=News.az |language=en}}</ref>
==Death== Tarshiz was killed on 8 January 2026 by Islamic Republic forces during the [[2026 Iran massacres]] amid the [[2025–2026 Iranian protests]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://iranwire.com/fa/news-1/147631-بازیکن-سابق-تراکتور-با-شلیک-سرکوبگران-کشته-شدند/|title=بازیکن سابق تراکتور با شلیک سرکوبگران کشته شدند|trans-title=Former Tractor player killed by the oppressors shot.|publisher=Iran Wire|first=Foad|last=Baghlani|language=fa|date=14 January 2026|access-date=14 January 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.iranintl.com/fa/video/ott_28ddf7ab435146c08e18d03b31095b16/|title=مجتبی ترشیز، بازیکن پیشین نساجی و تراکتور به دست جمهوری اسلامی کشته شد|trans-title=Mojtaba Tarshiz killed by the Islamic republic.|publisher=[[Iran International]]|first=Mazdak|last=Mirzaei|language=fa|date=14 January 2026|access-date=14 January 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.euronews.com/2026/01/15/iranian-footballers-killed-in-protests-as-former-national-team-captain-slams-fifa-silence |title=Iranian footballers killed in protests as former national team captain slams FIFA silence |website=[[Euronews]] |date=15 January 2026 |language=en}}</ref> He was shot after shielding his wife, Arezou Madani, with his body when security forces opened fire on protesters in [[Andisheh]], west of [[Tehran province]]. He was struck by gun shot, and both he and his wife reportedly died, with some reports suggesting his wife lived despite serious injuries.<ref name=hero>{{cite news|url=https://www.iranintl.com/202601150877|title=روایت دردناک قتلحکومتی بازیکن پیشین تراکتور؛ جان داد تا همسرش زنده بماند|trans-title=ّA tragic account of the state killing of a former Tractor player; he died so that his wife could live.|publisher=[[Iran International]]|language=fa|date=15 January 2026|access-date=15 January 2026}}</ref><ref name=Murder/><ref name="yahoo">{{Cite web |date=2026-01-14 |title=Former Tractor Player and Wife Killed During Iran Protests |url=https://caspianpost.com/iran/former-tractor-player-and-wife-killed-during-iran-protests |access-date=2026-01-19 |website=The Caspian Post |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Kamiar |first=Babak |date=2026-01-15 |title=Iranian footballers killed in protests as former national team captain slams FIFA silence |url=https://ca.news.yahoo.com/iranian-footballers-killed-protests-former-110447267.html |access-date=2026-01-19 |website=Yahoo News |language=en-CA}}</ref>
Tarshiz was buried in [[Karaj]] on 12 January in a ceremony held without public announcements or media coverage.<ref name=Murder>{{cite news|url=https://www.iranintl.com/202601149768|title=جمهوری اسلامی مجتبی ترشیز، بازیکن پیشین تراکتور و همسرش را به قتل رساند|trans-title=ّThe Islamic republic Murdered Mojtaba Tarshiz and his wife.|publisher=[[Iran International]]|language=fa|date=14 January 2026|access-date=14 January 2026}}</ref> The couple were survived by their two daughters.<ref name=hero/><ref name=Murder/><ref name="yahoo"/>
==References== {{reflist|30em}}
{{2025–2026 Iranian protests}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Tarshiz, Mojtaba}} [[Category:1978 births]] [[Category:2026 deaths]] [[Category:Iranian men's footballers]] [[Category:Footballers from Qaem Shahr]] [[Category:Men's association football midfielders]] [[Category:Esteghlal Ahvaz F.C. players]] [[Category:Tractor S.C. players]] [[Category:Mes Sarcheshme players]] [[Category:Fajr Sepasi Shiraz F.C. players]] [[Category:Sanat Mes Kerman F.C. players]] [[Category:People killed in the 2025–2026 Iranian protests]] [[Category:People killed by Iranian security forces]]