Why didn’t the Iran team sing their national anthem?

The eleven players of Iran did not sing their national anthem during the England-Iran match, which ended in an English victory (6-2).

Credit: DR

Closed, hermetic faces. The Iranians have decided to boycott their national anthem, during Iran’s first match in this 2022 World Cup, against England, which ended in a heavy defeat for Iran (6-2).

The starting point of a conflict in a country, which really began on September 16th. With the death of Mahsa Amini, a feminist activist who fights against the compulsory wearing of the veil for Iranian women, in one of the toughest countries in the world in terms of religious laws. Arrested by the morality police, she died and that caused a real popular uprising. A repression, with more than ten dead. But also women who decide to remove the veil and who have filmed themselves doing so, and even images of women burning their veils. A true spiritual revolution.

A long-standing slingshot, well beyond the boycott of Iran’s anthem

However, some Iranian footballers are opponents of the current regime of Ebrahim Raïssi, elected president of the republic on August 3, 2021. And as of this week, after the declarations of captain Alireza Jahanbakhsh who suggested that the players would collectively decide to sing the anthem or not, we felt that something could happen. We remember a match, on September 27, eleven days after the death of Mahsa Amini, during a friendly match against Senegal, the players had come covered with a black parka, in the mention of the logo of their federation. Some had shunned their anthem. On November 10, rebelote. Signs of rebellion.

But, since their arrival in Doha, the signs seemed to fade. “As you know, our duty is to play football. […] I also wonder, if Iran was not in your group, if you would have started with this question” replied Alireza Jahanbakhsh to an English journalist at a press conference. As the captain said, we are all happy to be here, in one of the biggest tournaments in the world. We are totally focused on performance to bring joy to our population“, added goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand. But surface communication. Finally, on the ground, it was different.

Signs already, with certain declarations, with tributes to the Iranian people suffering there. It must be said that these players, even if they dispute what is the dream of their life, have family who have suffered in this constant repression for almost two months.

Ali Daei boycotts the World Cup, climber Elnaz Rekabi and her courage

Ali Daei, Iranian football legend, most capped footballer in Iran and author of 109 goals with the national team, which makes him the second player to have scored the most goals for a national team, behind Crisitano Ronaldo (117) a decided to boycott the 2022 World Cup, in support of protesters against the regime. The climber Elnaz Rekabi, appeared without her hijab, during an international competition (Asian championship on October 15). Imitated on November 10 by archery specialist Parmida Qasemi. Other athletes have imitated them. Like the thousands of “anonymous people” who take enormous risks in Iran. When the revolution also happens in sport. Despite many statements from European leaders not wanting to mix sport and politics.