Even the fear of spies and violence does not stop Iran’s protesting fans: the game against England is about much more than football because brave Iranians are rebelling against the mullahs’ regime. The middle fingers and chants give you goosebumps – and show the DFB how courage works.
The numbers of this football game are: 320. 5. 15,000. About 320 people – children, women and men – have died so far in the mass demonstrations in Iran that followed the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini. Five were executed by the regime in Tehran (a sixth death sentence was imposed). Around 15,000 are currently in prison for opposing the mullahs. Countless others have been and are being beaten up, harassed, intimidated. The protest against these numbers, behind which there are incredible suffering and many stories and fates, are more important than every goal, than every victory, than every world title.
Even if England beat Iran 6-2 in the World Cup premiere at the Khalifa International Stadium, where the final will take place on December 18, there are other moments that give goosebumps and deserve to be singled out. Because while England fans and Gareth Southgate’s side hope to end Qatar’s 56-year footballing ordeal, there is much more at stake for the opponent’s football-loving country of 80 million, normally united by football. With their protest in this explosive and highly political game, courageous Iranians are sending a signal all over the world and are drawing attention to the terrible violence of the regime at home on the biggest of all stages.
Amini was arrested for wearing her hijab “inappropriately” and later died in hospital after allegedly being ill-treated by police. The protests that followed, with many dead and injured, are still shaking the country, triggering a domestic political crisis and posing an existential threat to the mullahs’ regime.
In Qatar it looks like this: There is the Iranian spectator who proudly points his middle finger to the sky at the national anthem. There is the Iranian, who at the same time forms her fingers into a peace-peace sign. The entire lower tier of the curve is full of Iran fans who unfurl an oversized flag with the inscription “Women, Life, Freedom” and yell the slogan (“Women, Life, Freedom” – “Zan, Zendegi, Azadi” – that’s it call of the protesters in Iran).
There are the Iranian soccer pros, arm in arm on the pitch, listening to the national anthem with a serious look – but not singing along. A clear statement. Silent, but still more powerful than some loud screams. For solidarity with the protests and for freedom. Against the Iranian regime and against the violence.
While all of these people risk harsh penalties and possibly jail and beatings and defy their power apparatus of arbitrariness and violence, England captain Harry Kane and Germany captain Manuel Neuer do not put the “One Love” armband out of fear of a yellow card on. Where individual Iranians show courage, the mighty DFB gives in to FIFA and Qatar.
But back to the lawn. Mason Mount delivers a faithful rendition of “God Save the Queen” instead of “King”. Some habits are difficult to break. The Three Lions then get on their knees to demonstrate against racial violence. The next important sign.
The Iran fans broadcast many of these hours before kick-off. Thousands of supporters of both camps frolic in celebration and peacefully in front of the stadium. A man wears a “Women Life Freedom” shirt (on the back: Ali Karimi, former FC Bayern professional), but does not want to reveal his name for fear of penalties and only allows a photo without his face. He says: “We stand very clearly with the protest in Iran.” His companion points to his jersey, in which the national emblem on the Iranian flag, which shows the word Allah (God) in stylized Persian-Arabic script, has been replaced by a soccer ball.
Another has not heard of organized protests by fans but is hoping for a clear signal from the team and spectators about “bad things” at home. An Iranian, accompanied by several Iranian women, is afraid to speak loudly and whispers in his ear from close range: “ALL in Iran support the protests. Hopefully players will show solidarity with the protests, but some of them support the regime.” In fact, Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi had invited the national team to Qatar before leaving. Pictures of how many of the kickers bowed in awe to the arch-conservative rulers caused harsh criticism in the country.
What is striking on this afternoon is that many Iranian women, often without a headscarf, make the journey to the stadium, which they are almost never allowed to do at home. A woman in her early 30s – she wears a traditional robe but her hijab fits loosely – illustrates how bad things are for women in Iran at the moment. She definitely wanted to protest here as well, but was afraid of “spies” and believed that she could be “arrested or beaten up at the airport” on her return journey. You would therefore prefer to proceed cautiously here.
A student, about 25 years old, goes further. “Who knows” whether the mullahs would have sent spies or would be watching everything online, but it was “quite possible”. But the protest has priority – and that’s why she proudly shows herself without a headscarf and with a flag without the national emblem. “The flag would get me in more trouble than the missing hijab,” she says. That’s why she prefers not to post anything on social media for fear of being arrested when she returns home. Things get hot for a moment when an Iranian observes the conversation and wants to hand her the “real flag” of the republican republic. A little apprehensive but determined, the student declines. “Here, too, you have to be careful who you talk to, you never know whether they support the regime,” she says.
Her friends had told her that in these times of protest you couldn’t go to a World Cup. “But my sister lives here and I want to demonstrate for freedom here, too,” explains the student. Then she has to go on, but before that she shows her pink fingernails. The thumb, middle and pinky fingers denounce the Venus symbol for women, a heartbeat line for life, and a dove for freedom.
Football is then also played in the Khalifa Stadium. And not bad at all. Nothing happens for a long time at first because of a serious head injury to the Iranian keeper Alireza Beiranvand, which later resulted in 14 minutes of added time. Meanwhile, the England fans sing “God Save The King”, the Iranian supporters surprise with the Icelandic “Huh”.
England had their first big chance in the 30th minute after a beautiful combination via Bukayo Saka and Raheem Sterling after Mason Mount hit the side netting. The Three Lions ramped up the pressure and two minutes later, Harry Maguire headed the crossbar. Again, only three minutes later what was indicated happened and of course it is the golden boy from the Bundesliga. Jude Bellingham from BVB heads in from the left after a cross from Luke Shaw, sensitively and in a high arc into the right corner of the goal.
The calls for “Iran” have not died down, however. England followed up with a beautiful goal in the 44th minute. In the middle of the penalty area, Saka has far too much space and time to accept a Maguire header and finishes with a brilliant volley. A minute later, Sterling even raises. In the second half (62nd) Saka puts together a brace after a nice solo – and nobody in his team begrudges these goals anymore. After his missed penalty in the final of the European Championship last year, the offensive man was massively racially insulted by the English.
Just three minutes later, Mehdi Taremi scored the Iranians’ first consolation goal, and their fan base literally exploded. Next, Marcus Rashford, who has just come on as a substitute, is allowed to shoot in relatively unhindered (71′), before Jack Grealish scores to make it 6-1. It doesn’t matter, loud protest calls continue to echo through the stadium: “Zan, Zendegi, Azadi”. Then, deep in stoppage time, Taremi converted a penalty to make it 2-6. The Iranian fans cheer as if the result were reversed.
And somehow that’s true. Although FIFA boss Gianni Infantino keeps wanting to “focus on football” and leave “politics” in front of the stadium gates, and although the DFB doesn’t even dare to exchange an important sign for a probably insignificant penalty, Iran wins on this one Afternoon in Doha. England can still score so many goals.
In other words, the brave people of the country are victorious with their incredibly courageous protest against the regime and for freedom. All the girls and women who take off their hijabs, who cut their hair. The protesters who risk their health and lives on the streets. The thousands of prisoners who demonstrated against the violence and are now in custody.