Iran’s women’s national football team are “champions” after playing the national anthem, says Iran’s former men’s coach

Iran’s women’s national football team became “heroes” when they refused to sing the country’s national anthem at the Asian Cup, says former Iran men’s national team coach Afshin Ghotbi.

Iran’s players remained silent during the playing of the national anthem in their opening match against South Korea on March 2. This came amid a broader context of escalating conflict following the strikes launched by the United States and Israel on their homeland since February 28.

Iran launched missiles and drones towards Israel and four Gulf Arab countries that host American military bases: Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates.

During weeks of anti-government protests in Iran in December and January, at least 7,000 protesters were killed in an unprecedented crackdown by security forces, according to human rights groups.

Some Iranians had hoped that recent military attacks on the country’s leadership would lead to rapid regime change, but doubts have since been raised about that possibility.

Iran’s players sang and performed the national anthem in their next matches against tournament hosts Australia and the Philippines.

“Imagine the pressure,” Ghotbi said through tears as he spoke to BBC Sport.

“You want to compete to the best of your ability, but before the match 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 think that’s unfair.”

Ghotbi said he saw something similar with Iran’s men’s national team during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

He added: “The players were confused about what to do.”

“If they salute and sing the national anthem, the government embraces and loves them. If they do that, the fans and the Iranian people hate them.”

The women’s team’s different approaches led to speculation that they were forced to sing the national anthem by government officials accompanying them during the tournament as part of the delegation.

The team was due to return home after being eliminated from the tournament, but concerns about their safety emerged when footage emerged of a state TV presenter calling them “traitors” who should be punished for refusing to sing the national anthem.

“These women… have become symbols, they have become heroes,” said Ghotbi, who managed Iran’s men’s national team between 2009 and 2011.

“Everyone around the world will be watching how they are treated and what happens to them, so I hope politicians of all parties will leave them alone and let them live their lives.”

On Monday, five team members obtained humanitarian visas to remain in Australia, while the remaining players left the country on Tuesday evening.

Ghotbi added: “All people deserve freedom. They deserve the basics of life. And I think that’s what these women are fighting for. They want to be free. They want to be allowed to be who they want to be. And we have to allow them to do that.”