Former Iranian Olympic soccer player dies

AP - Sia Sadri, who played on the Iranian National Soccer Team in the 1956 Olympics and was later involved in youth soccer programs in the United States, has died. He was 67.

Sadri died Jan. 22 at the Boulder Community Hospital.

He came to the United States from Tehran, Iran, as a student in 1957, and graduated with a bachelor's degree in health and physical education and political science from Central Michigan University.

He married Chris Lipski and became a U.S. citizen in 1972.

Sadri's involvement with soccer took up much of his spare time. He was a member of the U.S. Soccer Federation, and served as a referee at club, high school and college levels. He was also a referee instructor.

In 1981, he founded the American Eagles Youth Soccer Club in Kansas City, Kan.

He moved to Colorado last year after his children came to the state. Sadri is survived by his wife, four sons, daughter, and five grandchildren.