Doha: The Iran team did not sing the national anthem before the first match against England in the World Cup. During the playing of the national anthem before the match, the team members refrained from singing the national anthem.
Iran player Alirez Jahanbakhshe had stated before the match that the team will make a collective decision about singing the national anthem. It expressed solidarity with those participating in the protest against the government. As a continuation of that, all 11 Iranian players did not sing the national anthem.
Protests have been going on in Iran for almost two months after the death of a young woman named Mahsa Amini in police custody. Amini died three days after his arrest. Anemi was arrested because Amini did not follow the dress code for women in Iran.
Earlier, several sportspersons refrained from singing the national anthem in solidarity with the protesters.