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Iranian Women's Soccer Team Stages Silent Protest by Refusing to Sing Anthem

The Iranian women's national soccer team staged a silent protest by refusing to sing their national anthem before their AFC Asian Cup opener against South Korea. The protest followed the death of Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, though coach Marziyeh Jafari deflected related questions from media. South Korea won the match 3-0 with goals from Choe Yu-ri, Kim Hye-ri, and Ko Yoo-jin. Despite the defeat, Coach Jafari expressed satisfaction with her team's performance against a historically stronger opponent.

Key Points: Iranian Women's Soccer Team Protests at Asian Cup

  • Silent protest during anthem
  • Coach deflects political questions
  • South Korea wins 3-0
  • Team satisfied with performance
2 min read

Iranian women's soccer team refuse to sing national anthem in AFC Asian Cup opener

Iran's women's soccer team refused to sing their national anthem in a silent protest during their AFC Asian Cup opener against South Korea.

"We knew that we would have a tough game ahead as Korea is one of the toughest teams in Asia. - Marziyeh Jafari"

Gold Coast, March 3

The Iranian women's national soccer team made a silent protest during the opening match of the Women's Asian Cup, as they refused to sing their national anthem, which was played over the speakers at Cbus Super Stadium on the Gold Coast.

Ahead of the game against South Korea, the players were in their customary line before their match when the Iranian national anthem began to play, none of the Iranian players or even head coach Marziyeh Jafari sang along as they were looking straight ahead and barely moving.

The silent protest came after Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in Israeli and U.S. strikes.

During questioning by media on Sunday, Iran captain Zahra Ghanbari, alongside Jafari, was asked about Khamenei's death. The question was shot down quickly. Jafari answered in Farsi, but an AFC media representative cut off her response without any translation, according to ESPN.

"OK, I think that's all for your question. Thank you for asking. Let's just focus on the game itself," the media rep said before questioning continued.

However, the match went in favour of South Korea as Choe Yu-ri's first-half strike followed by Kim Hye-ri and Ko Yoo-jin after the break, sealed the win.

Despite defeat, coach Jafari was satisfied with the efforts of Team Melli Banovan, playing in only their second Finals, against an Asian power that has featured 14 times in the tournament and been to the FIFA Women's World Cup on four occasions.

"We knew that we would have a tough game ahead as Korea is one of the toughest teams in Asia," she said. "They played very well, so I congratulate them and I hope we can come back to the competition powerfully.

"We had a strategy for the second half, and we put pressure (on them); we transitioned from defensive to offensive (tactics). We had an individual error for the penalty, and also the set-piece (goal conceded) was one of our players' fault. But I think the team performance was very good."

- IANS

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
Very brave of them. In India, we've seen athletes speak out too, though rarely during the anthem. The media rep cutting off the question is telling. The focus should always be on the game, but sometimes silence speaks louder than words.
A
Aditya G
While I understand the protest, the national anthem is a symbol of the country, not just its current leadership. As athletes representing Iran, there might have been other ways to express dissent. Still, their bravery is undeniable.
S
Sarah B
The coach handled the post-match press with such grace despite the difficult circumstances. Focusing on the team's performance shows real professionalism. Hope they do well in their next matches.
K
Karthik V
This is a complex geopolitical situation. The article mentions the leader was killed in strikes. The players' silent protest is probably about much more than just a soccer match. It's about the future of their nation. Deeply moving.
N
Nisha Z
As a woman, I feel so inspired by this team. To stand together like that, under global scrutiny... wow. They lost the match but won a moral victory. More power to Team Melli Banovan! 💪

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