Iran women’s soccer team silent for national anthem at Asian Cup game

Their silence came amid coordinated U.S.-Israeli airstrikes on Iran that killed the country's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and other high-ranking officials.

The Iranian women’s national soccer team stayed silent during their country’s national anthem on Monday night ahead of their first match of the Women’s Asian Cup against South Korea.

Before kickoff in their group match against South Korea, who went on to win 3-0 at the Gold Coast Stadium in Queensland, Australia, the Iranian players stayed tightlipped, looking straight ahead as their country’s anthem rang out through the stadium.

Their silence came amid coordinated U.S.-Israeli airstrikes on Iran that killed the country’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and other high-ranking officials on Saturday.

Iran countered by targeting U.S. military bases and other diplomatic strongholds dotted throughout the Middle East incuding in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates.

Although most of those attacks have been intercepted by air defences, at least five deaths were reported as of Monday, including three people in the UAE and one each in Kuwait and Bahrain.

Iran’s head coach, Marziyeh Jafari, and her players did not comment on their silence, the war or the death of Khamenei.

The team touched down in Australia several days before the ongoing strikes began and is set to play host nation Australia on Thursday, before their final group stage match against the Philippines on Sunday.

Players from other nations have commended the Iranian women’s team for its courage.