DOHA —
Carlos Queiroz admitted Iran’s
players are feeling the strain of protests in the Islamic republic after they
suffered a heavy 6–2 defeat by England in their World Cup Group B opener on
Monday.
اضافة اعلان
Queiroz’s side chose not to sing their national
anthem at the Khalifa International Stadium in apparent support for
anti-government protesters in their homeland.
Led by captain Alireza Jahanbakhsh, the Iranian
players stood silently during their pre-match anthem.
Jahanbakhsh had said the team would decide together
whether or not to refuse to sing the anthem in solidarity with the nationwide
protests triggered by the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in morality police
custody on September 16.
Amini, an Iranian of Kurdish origin, died three days
after her arrest in Tehran over an alleged breach of the Islamic republic’s
dress code for women.
Speaking after his team were routed by England, Iran
boss Queiroz made it clear the political unrest had taken a toll on the squad.
“It is not right to come to this
World Cup and ask
them to do things that are not their responsibility. They want to bring pride
and joy for the people,” Queiroz told reporters.
“You don’t even imagine behind the scenes what these
kids have been living in the last few days, just because they want to express
themselves as footballers.”
Queiroz said that whatever the players said, they
could not win.
“Of course we have feelings and beliefs and in due time, at
the right moment, we will express them,” he said.
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