Iran’s women’s soccer team has been labelled “wartime traitors” by an Iranian state television presenter after its players did not sing the national anthem before a match.
Mohammad Reza Shahbazi, in footage shared on social media platform X, said the players should be dealt with “severely” for “dishonour and lack of patriotism”.
Iran’s participation in the Asian Cup in Australia comes during the ongoing U.S. and Israeli military strikes on the nation, which killed supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, sparking retaliatory attacks.
FIFPRO Asia/Oceania, the continental division of the world players’ union, said on Friday it has written to tournament organisers the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and world governing body FIFA to request they “urgently engage” with the Iranian Football Federation and the government of Australia to “ensure every effort is made to protect the safety of the players”.
“In addition to the dangerous situation the players would face if they return to Iran following the tournament, FIFPRO Asia/Oceania is deeply concerned by reports that Iranian state television has publicly attacked the members of the team for remaining silent during the national anthem before their opening match,” the statement added.
Iran’s team remained silent during the playing of its national anthem before the side’s Asian Cup opener against South Korea earlier this week. The players did sing the anthem while saluting ahead of their game against Australia three days later.
The Athletic has verified the broadcast and contacted the AFC, FIFA, the Iranian Football Federation and the government of Australia for comment.
“Let me just say one thing: traitors during wartime must be dealt with more severely,” Shahbazi said, referencing the non-singing before the opening game. “Anyone who takes a step against the country under war conditions must be dealt with more severely.
“Like this matter of our women’s football team not singing the national anthem, and that photo that was published and so on, which I won’t get into. These people must be dealt with more severely.
“This is no longer just a symbolic protest move or the like. In a war situation, in this state of affairs, where they strike and martyr students and seven-to-eight-year-old girls in schools, where they attack the neonatal ward of a hospital, where they hit stadiums.
“For you to go there and not sing the national anthem; this is the pinnacle of dishonour and lack of patriotism. Both the people and the officials should treat these individuals as wartime traitors, not as if they just had a protest or performed a symbolic act.
“The stigma of dishonour and betrayal must remain on their foreheads, and separately they must be dealt with properly.”
Iran’s national anthem is tied to the 1979 Islamic revolution, which brought in a theocracy — a country ruled by religious leaders — which, until his death on Saturday, was headed by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.
In the 2022 men’s World Cup, Iran’s players refused to sing the national anthem ahead of their opening game against England, but did so in the following games against Wales and the United States. That tournament was played with the backdrop of widespread protests against Iran’s conservative clerical leadership.
On Wednesday, Iran forward Sara Didar said the team is “concerned and sad” for the country and their loved ones during the ongoing war.
Iran, which lost its opening two matches, plays its final group game against the Philippines on Sunday. A win by several goals for Iran could see them qualify for the quarter-final stage as one of the best third-placed group sides.
The ongoing conflict has thrown Iran’s participation in this summer’s men’s World Cup, being held across the U.S., Canada and Mexico, into question.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that he “really (doesn’t) care” if Iran participates in this summer’s tournament.
This article originally appeared in The Athletic.
Iran, Soccer, International Football, Women's Soccer, FIFA Men's World Cup, FIFA Women's World Cup
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