Before the World Cup opening game in Qatar, the entire Iranian national team does not sing the anthem, and state television stops broadcasting. Now the players probably don’t expect a suspension for the time being. However, a bad performance at the World Cup could result in sanctions.
Iran’s national soccer players are unlikely to face any consequences for the time being after the anthem was not sung at the start of the World Cup against England. This will not happen during the tournament as not all players on the team could be banned, Iranian sports journalists wrote. But a temporary ban or pay cuts for the players employed in the Iranian league could be a possibility after the World Cup – especially if the team performs poorly.
The whole team hadn’t sung the national anthem before the 2:6 in the World Cup opening game against England. On social media, this gesture was not only seen as solidarity with the system-critical protests that have been going on in the country for more than two months, but also as a sign that the national team is against political rule.
The press in the country deliberately ignored the gesture the day after. However, on social media and Persian-language news channels abroad, the players’ silent protest was far more important than the game and result. Only the daily Kayhan, mouthpiece of the country’s hardliners, described the players as traitors who had allowed themselves to be influenced by the country’s foreign political enemies.
Despite the heaviest defeat in Iran’s World Cup history, the press in Iran was reluctant to criticize the sporting performance. After the 2:6 against England at the start, the team of national coach Carlos Queiroz still have the games against Wales on Friday and against the USA (29.11.) in the preliminary round.
