Iran football team pays tribute to children killed in Minab school bombing
Belek, March 27
Iran's men's national football team made an emotional tribute to the children killed in a recent school bombing in Minab, holding up schoolbags during the national anthem and wearing black armbands before a match against Nigeria on Friday.
Iran was playing a friendly match against Nigeria in the resort town of Belek. The gesture was a symbolic act of remembrance for the young victims of the Elementary Girls' school, which killed over 160 people in the southern Iranian city amid ongoing conflict, according to Press TV.
A girls' primary school in Minab, southern Iran, was hit during airstrikes linked to the Operation Roaring Lion on February 28, 2026. The Shajareh Tayyebeh girls' elementary school was destroyed by a missile while students were in class, killing more than 100 people, most of them children.
The attack triggered global condemnation, with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation calling it a grave violation of international humanitarian law and urging accountability.
Iranian Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi on Friday slammed the United States and Israel for the attacks on civilian infrastructure in Iran. Calling the actions a war crime, he urged the world to come together against the injustice towards Iran and underlined that the country would continue to defend itself as long as needed.
This comes after US-Israeli strikes continue to target key infrastructure in Iran. Earlier, US President Trump signalled a thaw in operations against Iran, saying that Iran had sought a seven-day pause on American strikes targeting its energy infrastructure, but he decided to extend the window to 10 days to April 6, and the strikes by the combined US-Israel forces continue.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Sports and politics should be separate, but sometimes sports is the only platform left to show humanity. Respect to the Iranian team for this silent, strong protest. It's a shame such atrocities are still happening in 2026.
While the loss of innocent life is tragic, we must also be cautious. The article only presents one side, quoting Press TV and the Iranian FM. The geopolitical situation is complex. India must maintain its strategic neutrality and not get drawn into other nations' conflicts.
Over 160 people, most of them little girls... it's unspeakable. Where is the global outrage? UNESCO's statement is not enough. This is a clear war crime and there must be accountability. The tribute by the players is the least the world can do to remember them.
This hits close to home. We in India know the pain of terrorism and conflict. Attacking a school is crossing every red line. The international community's selective condemnation is the real problem. Humanity first, always.
A very moving act by the football team. It shows that beyond flags and anthems, we are all human. My heart goes out to the families in Minab. May the souls of the innocent children rest in peace. Om Shanti.
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