Iran women’s football team sing anthem amid safety concerns during war

Players sing, salute during anthem in last Asian Cup game as rights activists raise concerns over their return to Iran.

Players on the Iranian women’s football team have sung and saluted during their national anthem before their ⁠final Women’s Asian ⁠Cup match at Gold Coast Stadium in Australia, six days after their decision to remain silent during the anthem saw them labelled “wartime traitors” on state ⁠TV back home.

The Iranians, whose situation has become a cause celebre among human rights campaigners in Australia, will play no further part in the tournament ⁠after a 2-0 loss on Sunday to the Philippines in Queensland.

Their campaign in the continental showpiece started last weekend, just as the United States and Israel launched air strikes on Iran on February 28, killing at least 1,332 people since then, including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

Iran’s team and management, who have voiced fears and concerns for their families in Iran, wore a stoic look and chose not to sing their national anthem in the opening game against South Korea on Monday.

Their decision drew criticism in Iran with Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting presenter Mohammad Reza Shahbazi saying in a video that the players showed a lack of patriotism and their actions amounted to the “pinnacle of dishonour”.