FIFA World Cup 2022: Netizens laud Iranian team for not singing anthem in solidarity with women protesters

Many Iranian supporters, too, abstained from singing the anthem and some booed it as well. Many Iranian supporters were seen holding placards in the colours of Iran’s flag with the words: “Freedom for Iran”; “Woman, Life, Freedom.” The Iran players’ refusal to sing the anthem drew a lot of support on social media.

“This is what courage looks like. The Iranian football team refuses to sing the national anthem on biggest stage in the world. Eleven men, standing shoulder to shoulder, sending out a message without uttering a word,” a person wrote on Twitter.

This is what courage looks like

The Iranian football team refuses to sing the national anthem on biggest stage in the world

Eleven men, standing shoulder to shoulder, sending out a message without uttering a word#WorldCup #WorldCup2022 #Qatar2022 #Iran pic.twitter.com/n8gtQed4Fl

— Stefan Simanowitz (@StefSimanowitz) November 21, 2022

“Am so so proud that the Iran players refused to sing the regimes so-called ‘national anthem’ Heroes!! Brave and courageous!! Yet the England team couldn’t wear an armband due to maybe getting a yellow card,” said another.

This is BRAVERY 👏 Iran’s soccer team just refused to sing their national anthem in light of the recent protests over the death of #MahsaAmini#IranRevolution pic.twitter.com/ROdm0CC56t

— Muhammad Misbah Ashraf (@MisbahAshrafPK) November 22, 2022

Iran players didn’t sing a word of the anthem! Incredible start #ENG v #IRAN
Highly significant.

— Omid Djalili (@omid9) November 21, 2022

Beautiful. In solidarity with the incredible courage and resilience of the women of Iran.pic.twitter.com/ccsqXSdubO

— Jon Stewart (@jonstewart) November 21, 2022

The England players made a statement of their own as well by taking the knee, the anti-racism symbol that became popular during the Black Lives movement, before kick-off. However, England captain Harry Kane did not wear the One Love armband after FIFA clarified that it would invite sanctions and captains would be given a yellow card if they wore unapproved armbands.

Protests in Iran have been taking place since mid-September after the death in custody of a 22-year-old woman, Mahsa Amini. The woman from Iran’s Kurdistan province was arrested by the country’s morality police in the capital Tehran for allegedly not adhering to the country’s dress code for women.

The match proved anticlimactic, however, as England outplayed Iran and hammered them 6-2 with goals from Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka, Raheem Sterling, Marcus Rashford and Jack Grealish. Iranian striker Mehdi Taremi scored twice, including a penalty during stoppage time. The Iran players did not celebrate the goals as well.