With an aim to end its 56-year wait for a FIFA World Cup title, Harry Kane’s England locked horns with Iran in the Group B opener at the showpiece event on Monday. Taking on the mighty Three Lions at the grandest stage of them all, Iran’s national football team led by Alireza Jahanbakhsh courted controversy by refusing to sing the country’s national anthem in the build-up to the Group B encounter at the Khalifa International Stadium.
Before the traditional kick-off of their World Cup 2022 opener against England, the 11 Iranian players expressed no emotion or reaction when Iran’s national anthem was loudly heard at the Khalifa International Stadium. So why all 11 players of the Iranian team did not sing their national anthem? According to Iran skipper Jahanbakhsh, the members of the national team were hoping to take a “collective” decision about refusing to sing the anthem in the World Cup opener.
On Monday, the Iranian players refused to sing the national anthem to extend their support to the anti-government protesters in the country. Iran is facing nationwide protests after 22-year-old Mahsa Amini died in police custody in Tehran. Amini was arrested after allegedly violating Islamic dress codes. She tragically passed away three days after her arrest in Tehran. According to news agency AFP, some Iranian athletes have decided not to sing the national anthem or celebrate the victories of the national team in support of the protesters.
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