Iran women’s football team protest at Asian Cup draws global attention
The former Iran men’s head coach, Afshin Ghotbi, has described the Iran women’s football team as “heroes” following their decision to remain silent during the national anthem at the Asian Cup, reports BritPanorama.
The players stood without singing before their opening fixture against South Korea on March 2, a protest that moved Ghotbi to tears. He expressed concern over the pressure athletes face during such politically charged moments, stating, “Imagine the pressure. You want to compete at your best, but then before even the game starts you have to decide how you’re going to stand, how you’re going to look and what you’re going to do. I just think that’s so unfair.”
Ghotbi, who led the men’s national side from 2009 to 2011, further emphasized the significance of the players’ actions, saying, “These women… have become symbolic, they become heroes.”
However, the team’s act of defiance has since placed them in danger. Footage emerged of a state television presenter branding the players “traitors” who deserved punishment for their refusal to participate in the anthem. Concerns over their well-being intensified after their elimination from the tournament, coinciding with their scheduled return home.
In a development reflecting their precarious situation, Australian authorities granted humanitarian visas to five members of the squad, allowing them to remain in the country. The rest of the team departed on Tuesday evening, with Ghotbi urging global attention to their plight, stating, “Everyone around the world will be following up on how they’re treated and what’s going to happen to them, so I hope that politicians on all sides just leave them alone and let them live their lives.”
The anthem protest occurred amid severe regional turmoil. US and Israeli forces launched strikes on Iranian territory from February 28, prompting Tehran to retaliate with missile and drone attacks on Israel and four Gulf states hosting American military installations.
Ghotbi acknowledged the impossible choice faced by Iranian athletes regarding national symbols, explaining, “If they salute and sing the national anthem, they are embraced and endeared by the government. If they do that, the fans, the Iranian people hate them,” drawing parallels with the men’s squad at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. In recent months, mass anti-government demonstrations have swept across Iran, leading to reports from human rights organizations of at least 7,000 protesters being killed during an unprecedented crackdown.
The future of Iran’s men’s team at the 2026 World Cup remains uncertain following the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei during the US and Israeli strikes in February. Sports Minister Ahmad Donyamali stated this week that Iran is not currently in a position to take part in the tournament starting June 11 in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. US President Donald Trump commented that while Iran would be “welcome,” their presence might not be “appropriate” given safety concerns.
For Ghotbi, who relocated to America at age thirteen, the prospect of exclusion is deeply troubling. “I would be devastated to see Iran [not compete] after having worked so hard to qualify for the fourth time in a row,” he reflected, capturing the intense emotions surrounding this turbulent chapter in Iranian sports.
