A prominent Iranian soccer player was arrested on charges that included destroying the reputation of the country’s national team.

The player, Voria Ghafouri, is a former member of Iran’s national squad and a frequent critic of the government. His arrest occurred at a moment in which Iranian players are under close scrutiny for their statements about a nationwide uprising that has continued for months.

Iran’s national team, during a match against England on Monday, declined to sing during the country’s national anthem, in what was widely seen as a silent acknowledgment of the protests. Iran’s national broadcaster showed select images of spectators cheering for Iran during the match, but not the political signs carried by spectators.

Protest in Iran began in September after a young Kurdish woman, Mahsa Amini, died in police custody. The uprising, against Iran’s clerical leadership, has spread across the country and sparked a fierce and deadly crackdown, including in ethnic Kurdish areas, where human rights groups say dozens of people have been killed in recent days.

Ghafouri, who is Kurdish, has criticised government officials on social media in the past, and recently posted messages on Twitter condemning the killing of Kurds. Iranian press reports did not specify the reasons for his arrest, but said the charges included “spreading propaganda against” the Islamic Republic.

He has been called up to play several times over the last decade on the national team and played for several Iranian club teams including Foolad Khuzestan, his current squad.

Iran play Wales at 9pm (AEDT) on Friday.