2024-01-15 01:30:56
A minute of silence was observed and then shouts of “Free Palestine” were heard before the Asian Cup match between Iran and the Palestinian national football team, on Sunday.
As the war between Israel and Hamas reached the 100-day mark, the two teams lined up in the middle of the field at Qatar’s Education City Stadium and asked for a declaration of silence “in memory of the lives tragically lost as a result of the ongoing situation in Palestine.”
Silence fell throughout the stadium in Al-Rayyan, Qatar, before pro-Palestinian chants might be heard from members of the public.
Earlier, the Palestinian players stood in a row with their arms clasped on each other’s shoulders and sang their national anthem with the fans. Then the players gathered before and following the moment of silence.
The Palestinian football team’s preparations for the tournament took place without local competitions, as well as limited opportunities to play competitive matches.
Iran, three-time champions of the tournament, won Sunday’s match 4-1. Iran scored two early goals, with Karim Ansarivard scoring within two minutes and Shoja Khalilzadeh adding another goal in the 12th minute.
Mehdi Gaidi scored 3-0 in the 38th minute.
But the loudest cheers in the match came when Palestinian player Tamer Siam succeeded in reducing the difference in stoppage time of the first half.
Sardar Azmoun scored Iran’s fourth goal 10 minutes following the start of the second half.
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