Iran’s football federation has suspended two players for the “inappropriate” goal celebration of buttock squeezing.

Mohammad Nosrati appeared to briefly put his hand on Sheys Rezaei as players of the team Persepolis huddled together to celebrate a goal against Damash Gilan in a televised match on Saturday.

The pair were also reportedly fined almost £25 000 each. Their actions might have caused little comment in the West where fans are used to “laddish” behaviour by football stars, but it caused outrage in the Islamic republic.

Jalal Yahyazadeh, a cleric and member of parliament, called it a “shameless act” and added that it had “upset, angered and outraged” all sports fans.

“What happened is absolutely not acceptable because it was a very ugly thing,” he said, adding that the country¹s sports minister should be held accountable.