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ISIS militants have beheaded four members of a football team after declaring the sport anti-Islamic.

The extremists banned organised sports like football when they took over Raqqa in Syria more than two years ago.

Fans in the city used to flock to watch Al-Shabab play matches in the city’s large stadium.

But earlier this week crowds watched as the four young men – accused of spying for the Kurdish YPG – were dispatched by ISIS executioners.

A fifth unknown man was also killed.

Photographs of the the aftermath of the gruesome execution, together with snaps of three of stars lining up for their side in the days before ISIS invaded, were released in a series of tweets by protest group, Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently.

The men were named as Osama Abu Kuwait, Ihsan Al Shuwaikh, Nehad Al Hussein and Ahmed Ahawakh.

One said: “Osama Abu Ku

wait a player in Al Shbab team in Raqqa for football Behead by ISIS.”

Another tweet read: “Photo for Ihsan Al Shuwaikh, a Player in AL Shbab team for football in #Raqqa Behead by #ISIS #Syria.”

The group shared a picture of a player standing in the team’s red kit with a lion on the shirt stood in front fans in a stadium with the words: “They Accused them for being spies for the Kurds , Photo for Nehad Al Hussein number 12 , #Raqqa #Syria #ISIS.”

Nehad was also circled in a team line-up wearing the number 12 shirt with coaching staff on the pitch at a ground.

The group initially said three players had been killed by the terror group but later added a fourth name to the list.

It is not the first time ISIS has targeted the sport of football.

Last year militants executed 13 teenage boys for watching the Asian Cup football match between Iraq and Jordan.

The young football fans had been caught watching the game on television in the Iraqi city of Mosul, which is controlled by the Islamic State.