Ahmed Nourolahi of Iran in action during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group B match between ENGLAND and IR Iran at Khalifa International Stadium on November 21, 2022 in Doha, Qatar.
Richard Sellers | Getty Images Sport | Getty Images
Iranian state media is calling for the US World Cup soccer team to be pulled out of the 2022 tournament in Qatar It then briefly replaced the emblem of the Iranian flag. on his social media accounts in support of the protests happening in the country.
The United States Soccer Federation showed the flags of countries competing in Group B in its social media posts over the weekend, which includes Tuesday’s match between the US and Iran. In the post, the Iranian flag icon was missing its Islamic republic’s emblem, showing only its red, white and green stripes.
Tuesday’s match is an important one that has already attracted political undertones. Whoever wins will go to the knockout stage.
Iranian media reacted swiftly, with state media agency Tasnim calling for the American team to be booted from the tournament.
“By posting a distorted image of the flag of the Islamic Republic of #Iran on his official account, #We football team fouled fifacom Charter, for which a 10-game suspension is the appropriate penalty. the team should be kicked out #worldcup2022Tasnim News Agency wrote in a post on its official Twitter account.
In a follow-up tweet, it added: “Iranian Football Federation legal advisor says sports federation files complaint to FIFA’s Ethics Committee against US soccer team after US men’s national soccer team disrespects Islamic republic’s national flag” Will enter. Of Iran.”
The US Soccer Federation said in a comment to CNN that it changed the flag for 24 hours to show “support for women fighting for basic human rights in Iran”, but added that it always intended to change it back. keeps.
An Instagram post by the US soccer men’s national team on Sunday, promoting an Iran-US match, featured the official Iranian flag with the designation “IR Iran”, which stands for Islamic Republic.
US-based Iranian activist Elika Le Bon commented on the US team’s move in an Instagram post, saying, “The US took a big stand here by removing the symbol from the flag of the fake Islamic Republic, which has become a symbol of tyranny, suffering for Iranians.” Has gone.” , and repression. This is not our flag. thank you thank you thank you.”
A demonstrator holds a portrait of Mahsa Amini during a demonstration in support of Amini, a young Iranian woman who was killed after being arrested in Tehran by the Islamic Republic’s morality police on Istiklal Avenue in Istanbul on September 20, 2022.
Ozan Kos | AFP | Getty Images
Soraya Beheshti, an Iranian citizen living in Dubai, told CNBC: “I think it’s ultimately not productive in its impact on governance, but it’s still symbolically important and appreciated by millions of Iranians.”
“It’s a good way to show solidarity with the protesters in an appropriate way without disrespecting the players, who clearly also support the revolution but are stuck between a rock and a hard place,” she said.
Iran expert and Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies Behnam Ben Taleblu said that “whatever support can be given to the Iranian people should be given, whether official or unofficial,” as they “bravely” fought for two and a half months. protesting for a long time.
The Iranian government vocally opposes the demonstrations, and accuses them of being foreign instigators, including the United States and Israel. It has not provided evidence for these claims.
Iran protests
Protests have been taking place across Iran since mid-September, rocking the government in what many are calling the biggest challenge to the Islamic republic in decades. Before their first World Cup match on 21 November, which was against England, the Iranian team refused to sing their national anthem, instead standing in silence.
Protests broke out over the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in police custody. Amini, a Kurdish Iranian woman, was arrested for allegedly breaking Iran’s strict rules on wearing the hijab, the Islamic head covering for women. She reportedly suffered multiple blows to the head, although Iranian officials say she died of preexisting conditions and deny any allegations of police brutality.
Team captain Alireza Jahanbakhsh had earlier said that he and his teammates would make a collective decision whether to make any statement or act during the national anthem in solidarity with anti-government protesters inside their country.
After the England match, Jahanbakhsh made a public statement expressing condolences and sorrow for Iranians who lost their loved ones during the protests, and that the situation in Iran was not good. But before the 25 November match against Wales, the team sang the Iranian anthem. It is unclear whether external or government pressure played a role in the change.
Iran’s female-led protest movement has drawn from many Iranians to call for the collapse of the Islamic Republic. In response, Iranian officials and police have been arresting and killing protesters in violent crackdowns.
Despite the intermittent shutdown of the country’s internet by the Iranian government, images of women burning burqas over their heads and crowds chanting “death to the dictator” amid burning cars, as well as security forces beating protesters The videos have been widely shared on social media.
Iran players line up for the national anthem prior to the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group B match between ENGLAND and IR Iran at Khalifa International Stadium on November 21, 2022 in Doha, Qatar.
Julian Finney | Getty Images
The US State Department said it had no involvement in the US Soccer Federation’s decision to remove the Islamic Republic’s symbol from its posts on the Iranian flag.
A State Department spokesperson said, “We look forward to a peaceful and competitive match on the field. The United States is looking for ways to support the Iranian people in protesting state-sponsored violence against women and brutal crackdowns against peaceful protesters.” Is.” CNBC in an emailed statement.
Tensions between Washington and Tehran have been particularly high since the US withdrew from the 2015 Iranian nuclear deal in 2018, which re-imposed tough sanctions on the Islamic republic. Its economy has buckled under sanctions, which were lifted because of the accord, which gave Iran economic relief in exchange for curbs on its nuclear program.
Iran is now enriching uranium Highest level ever And talks to revive the deal under a Biden administration have stalled for months.