Before the sport towards Wales, the professionals weren’t silent this time. / 2022 World Cup
Iran‘s national soccer players sang along to their national anthem before the World Cup preliminary round match against Wales. In the opening game against England, the team around star striker Sardar Azmoun from Bayer Leverkusen was still silent during the anthem. The decision was seen internationally as a protest against the mullahs’ regime and its brutal crackdown on protesters in Iran.
On Wednesday morning, the Iranians’ lips moved to the music – albeit quite reluctantly, as revealed by one element: When the anthem sounded, Azmoun first appeared to the correct at his teammates lined up subsequent to him earlier than he started, together with his head bowed, to learn the lyrics of the murmuring the nationwide anthem. It appeared as if the 27-year-old “Werkself” attacker wished to ensure that everybody was actually going to sing the anthem.
The reactions within the stands remained the identical because the England sport: the sound of the Iranian anthem erupted in thunderous applause across the Ahmed bin Ali Stadium. Many supporters of Iran cried uncontrollably, holding up nationwide flags and statements of solidarity with the protesters at residence.
As TV photos broadcast by ARD confirmed, indicators and T-shirts with inscriptions similar to “Woman. Life. Freedom” have been additionally taken away from particular person guests by safety forces.
