(TheRedAlertNews.com) – In an act equally filled with defiance and courage, the Iranian soccer team refused to sing their country’s national anthem at the World Cup today to show solidarity with protesters back home.
You can watch the video clip just a bit further down this post.
As soccer enthusiasts from every continent watched, the Iranian team stood silent in an act that could cost them prison or death when they return home to a country teetering on revolution as protests continued.
Bllomberg.com described what took place in a report headlined “Iran’s World Cup Team Shuns National Anthem to Back Protests”:
“Iran’s football team refused to sing their national anthem at their opening World Cup game against England on Monday, a gesture widely seen as a pledge of support for anti-government protests back home.
“The squad, known as Team Melli, has been at the center of criticism and controversy over participation in the tournament and Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had earlier warned athletes not to “disrespect” the country.” [emphasis added]
Context:
“Iran’s players have been caught between officials who want them to show loyalty to the country’s embattled Islamic establishment and the team’s mainly young fans who have urged the footballers to show solidarity with the protests over the death of Mahsa Amini — a 22-year-old woman who died in police custody in Tehran in September after allegedly violating Islamic dress codes.” [emphasis added]
Here is the video clip:
#BREAKING: Iran national team players choose not to sing national anthem at World Cup match; some of the Iranian crowed booing their own national anthem pic.twitter.com/RYPvgHMNUi
— Amichai Stein (@AmichaiStein1) November 21, 2022
