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Iranian protests have spread into the stands and onto the pitch during the 2022 World Cup, as supporters – and the Iranian players – have used the event to speak out for and against the country’s leadership. FRANCE 24 meets Iranian football fans in Qatar.
“In Iran, it’s impossible to separate politics and football,” said Ali Houman, a 53-year-old engineer who travelled to Qatar from Canada to watch Iran’s matches during the 2022 World Cup. Speaking outside Ahmed Bin Ali stadium prior to a game that saw Iran secure a victory over Wales, Houman carried an Iranian flag with a hole cut in the middle removing the symbol of the Islamic Republic.
National protests against Iranian leadership have gathered pace since early September when 22-year-old Mahsa Amini died in police custody after being arrested for not wearing a hijab. Protests sparked by outrage over her death have evolved into widespread revolt against the regime.
In Qatar, Houman wanted to show his own support for the protest movement, but was surprised to see players on the Iranian team do the same. During their opening match against England, Iran’s players stayed silent during the national anthem, the lyrics of which glorify the Islamic revolution of 1979.
“I was expecting to boo the players but that changed my mind; I felt proud of them,” Houman said. “There’s no doubt that they’ll be punished for it, but it was a powerful gesture.”
‘A difficult position’
Yet the Iranian players chose to sing the national anthem prior to their second match against Wales, drawing vocal disappointment from their supporters in the stands.
The team itself is divided. Star forward Sardar Azmoun…
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