Doha: The playing of national anthem before sporting events is one of the most poignant moments at sporting arenas.
On Monday, however, the Iranian footballers remained grim-faced as they refused to hum the national anthem which was played on the PA system at the Khalifa International Stadium ahead of their clash against England here.
Millions watching the game couldn’t fathom why the footballers remained mum. A section of the crowd even booed the players.
Watch the video shared on social media by several user:
According to news agencies, the Iranian World Cup team declined to sing the national anthem in apparent support for anti-government protesters back home.
Iran captain Alireza Jahanbakhsh said before the match that the team would decide “collectively” whether or not to sing the anthem.
Iran has been engulfed by widespread protests since mid-September following the death of 22-year old woman Mahsa Amini in police custody. She was nabbed by the police on September 17 for not wearing her hijab properly.
The protests gathered steam rapidly and turned into a virtual revolt against the ruling regime’s regressive rules which often hurts women’s rights.
It is being considered to be one of Iran’s biggest protests since the Islamic revolution of 1979.
Nearly 300 protestors have been killed in the crackdown by the Iranian authorities.
Chennai: Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant feasted on the Bangladeshi bowling to help Team India…
New Delhi: Posters protesting Narendra Modi’s visit to the United States, specifically New York, have allegedly…
Rourkela: Police have arrested the owner of a Jan Seva Kendra in Rourkela of Odisha's…
Bhubaneswar: In a joint forest raid conducted by forest wing of Odisha Vigilance on Saturday,…
Berhampur: The construction work of the heritage Paralakhemundi and Gunupur railway stations in Odisha as…
Bhubaneswar: Madhuri Meheta will lead Odisha in the Senior Women’s T20 Trophy to be played…
New Delhi: Atishi Marlena was on Saturday sworn in as the 8th chief minister of…
Sambalpur: The Hirakud Dam in Odisha's Sambalpur district reached its peak capacity of 630 feet,…