Wednesday 23 November 2022 10:17 AM Iran's footballers warned by Tehran officials they face retribution for not ... trends now
Iran's footballers have been warned by officials in Tehran they face retribution for their 'insulting' decision not to sing their national anthem ahead of their Qatar World Cup match against England.
The team could face reprisals if they refuse to sing Iran's national anthem in their remaining World Cup games, an Iranian politician warned, meaning all eyes will be on the team during their game against Wales on Friday.
Medhi Chamran, the chairman of Tehran city council, warned that the country 'will never allow anyone to insult our anthem', reports The Guardian.
The Iranian national squad had stood stony-faced as the anthem played at the Khalifa International Stadium on Monday ahead of their 6-2 World Cup defeat to England.
It was viewed as a stand of solidarity with protests currently engulfing Iran following the death of Mahsa Amini in the custody of Iran's morality police on September 16.
Iran's footballers have been warned by officials in Tehran they face retribution for their 'insulting' decision not to sing their national anthem ahead of their Qatar World Cup match against England on Monday (pictured)
The Iranian national squad had stood stony-faced as the anthem played at the Khalifa International Stadium on Monday ahead of their 6-2 World Cup defeat to England
The 22-year-old died three days after her arrest in Tehran for allegedly breaching the Islamic dress code for women.
But the Iranian national squad may now face retribution for their act of defiance after Chamran said on Tuesday: 'We will never allow anyone to insult our anthem and flag.
'Iranian civilisation has a history of several thousand years, this civilisation is as old as the total of European and American civilisations.'
A conservative MP in Kurdistan also called for the Iranian football team to be replaced by faithful youngsters who are willing to sing the national anthem, reports the Guardian.
Meanwhile, a senior British politician said the risk to the Iranian players' lives is now 'serious and severe' after they refused to sing the national anthem.
Conservative MP Alicia Kearns, who chairs the UK's Commons Foreign Affairs Committee, said Britain should support Iran's international footballers if they seek asylum following their 'very bold and brave political statement'.
Iran's heavily censored media made little mention of the Iranian team not singing the
