Iran’s Soccer Players Refuse To Sing National Anthem Ahead Of World Cup Opening Match
BY CHRISTOPHER BRITO
NOVEMBER 21, 2022 / 12:04 PM / CBS NEWS
The Iranian soccer team’s players chose not to sing their country’s national anthem before their opening match against England on Monday at the World Cup in Qatar, in apparent solidarity with protesters back home. As Iran’s national anthem played at Khalifa International Stadium, television cameras showed the starting players standing stoically, but not singing.
Iran lost the match to England, 6-2.
Prior to the game, team captain Alireza Jahanbakhsh said he and his teammates would decide “collectively” whether they would take a stand during the anthem in support of the anti-government protests.
In the team’s friendly match against Nicaragua on November 11, most of the players declined to sing the anthem, AFP reported.