In the opening match of the group, Iran’s national team players refused to sing their national anthem as expression of solidarity with the protesters. Iran was defeated by England with a score of 6-2. The players sung the national team when they encountered Wales which they won by 2-0. There were reports that they players were under intense pressure from the Iranian authorities.
The endless political conflict in Iran began 10 weeks ago after the death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old woman who was detained by the morality police in Tehran for not wearing hijab (headscarf) properly.
Read: Iran national football team refuses to sing national anthem at World Cup match
Authorities responded to what they described as “riots” with a fierce crackdown in which a Norway-based Iranian human rights group says at least 448 people have been killed, including 60 children, and more than 18,000 arrested. (rr)