– How can I watch football when my neighbour, my brother, my countryman and countrywoman are not well, asks former Iran coach Jalal Talebi, according to the New York Times. The world is largely divided when it comes to the football World Cup in Qatar, which starts on 20 November. Some are happy to follow their nation and their heroes in the hunt for the most rewarding title in football, while others are boycotting the championship in Qatar. It comes for several reasons: Repeated human rights violations, deaths during the construction of stadium facilities, the view of women and the persecution of LGBT+ people. But in Iran they protest against the championship for completely different reasons. Willing to sacrifice World Cup ticket Thousands of Iranians have demonstrated against the Iranian authorities every single day, for several months. The protests were triggered by the death of 22-year-old Mahsa “Jina” Amini in the custody of the morality police in Tehran on 16 September. She is said to have been arrested for drilling her hijab incorrectly. SUPPORT: Protesters outside the UN headquarters in Iraq want justice for Masha Amini and Iranian women. Photo: Hawre Khalid / AP Veteran coach Jalal Talebi is among those who are critical. He coached Iran during the World Cup in 1998, where he led the team to a symbolic and historic victory over the USA. When Talebi says that he supports the protests and also believes that it is not right to participate in the World Cup, it is noticed. One of the big profiles of the national team, Sardar Azmoun, has protested against the violence of the Iranian regime. On Monday, it was announced that he has been included in the World Cup squad for Iran. – In the worst case, they throw me out of the national team. I sacrifice it (to play for the national team) for every single strand of the hair of Iran’s women, Azmoun wrote on Instagram, pointing out that Iranian women cut their hair in protest against the regime. Not long after, his post was deleted, but he has several posts where he shows support for Iranian women. – Does not deserve to be in the World Cup The freedom struggle has received great international attention, and recently Iran’s participation in the World Cup has been criticized and debated. More and more Iranian sports profiles and athletes are getting involved, and are asking for Iran’s national team to be banned from the World Cup. – First of all, I would like to say that the matter is not just about the hijab. It is only a fraction of what emerges in the revolution. It’s about freedom and that women should be heard, says the Norwegian-French goalkeeper Sosha Makani to news. – What are your thoughts on Iran’s World Cup participation? – I have no comment about the team, since it is the government’s team, and not the people’s. I don’t think the Islamic Republic’s football team deserves to be part of the World Cup, they can be replaced with either Ukraine or Italy, Makani believes. VOICE: Sosha Makani believes it is important that the voices of the Iranian people are promoted by those who have access to the media. Photo: Even Bjøringsøy Johnsen / news He is among those who have expressed support and commitment to the Iranian people through social media. Makani has played in Mjøndalen for seven years, but in that time has had two loan spells in Iranian football. The player was not allowed to extend his contract with the brown jerseys, but wishes to continue his career. He doesn’t want that in his home country. – As a person who lives in the free world, I know that the situation for those who live in the country is very tough and that they cannot speak freely, says Makani. A concrete example of this is an Iranian national beach soccer team. Iran reached the final of the Emirates Intercontinental Beach Soccer Cup 2022 tournament, facing Brazil in the final on 6 November. Iran won 2-1, but got more attention for the markings before, during and after the match: During the national anthem before kick-off they did not sing. Saeed Piramoun, who scored the decisive goal, “celebrated” by gesturing that he was cutting his hair. Cutting the hair has become a widespread political symbol of the rebellion against the Iranian state. When the official victory photos were taken by the Iranian players, they did not celebrate. There was not a single hint of jubilation. They just looked serious. Piramoun’s marking after the 2-1 score was met with cheers from the stands, but the Iranian Football Federation (FFIRI) said in a press release that it will be cracked down on. – Hope, helplessness and fear Another athlete who follows the situation in Iran closely is the Norwegian-French Jerv player Iman Mafi. He has a large part of his family in Iran, and while Jerv has fought for a place in the Eliteserien, Mafi has “played for something bigger”. Through both social media and with black bands around his wrists, which several Iranian football players have used to show their support, he tries to contribute what he can. – It’s the least I can do: To try to get some attention on the case in the Norwegian media and at the same time show that I support the people of Iran, says Mafi to news. – How is it for you to follow what is happening in Iran? BLACK BANDS: This photo was posted by Iman Mafi on his Instagram profile. The black bands are a sign of support for Iranian women. Photo: Trond Reidar Teigen / NTB – It is a mixture of hope, helplessness and fear. I still have a lot of family there that I think about. I have hope for freedom for the people, but also fear that this will not work and that lives will be lost for no reason, he says, and adds: – That I can contribute to creating awareness about it, I know means a lot to many Iranians. I have received quite a few messages from people who are in the streets there, who have appreciated it and that is what means something to me, says Mafi. Makani and Mafi are supported by marketing manager in Vålerenga, Mehran Amundsen-Ansari. He hopes the Norwegian Football Association (NFF) will put more pressure on FIFA to act. – The NFF, led by Lise Klaveness, has come out strongly against the Qatar World Cup. One has taken a clear position there. In extension of that, it is right that they saw even greater pressure on Fifa and what is happening in Iran, says Amundsen-Ansari to news. PUTTING PRESSURE ON FIFA: Vålerenga’s marketing manager believes Iran should not play in the football World Cup in Qatar. – Should Iran be allowed to play in the football World Cup? – Not with the current situation. It hurts my heart to say that, you want to see your country in the World Cup, but the way the situation has been in Iran, I don’t think so, replies Vålerenga’s marketing manager. Football president Lise Klaveness told news on Friday that the NFF is fully focused on the Qatar case, but that they are also following what is happening in Iran. – We will of course be aware of everything that happens in Iran. Now, the Norwegian Football Association is not in any position to take a political position in that matter. So we just follow along and see how this case develops and seek insight all the way. Criticized Fifa in letter The organization Open Stadiums, which works for women’s rights, was among the first to get involved in the case. In a letter to Fifa president Gianni Infantino, the association is criticized for not having done enough. “We no longer believe this national team represents us or our values as Iranian citizens,” the letter to Fifa states, among other things. A number of athletes, both current and former, have followed up in a new letter to Fifa in which it is also demanded that the country be withdrawn from the WC. In the letter, they refer to what they call state-sponsored violence and discrimination against ordinary Iranians, and women in particular. Iran’s World Cup participation is also not popular in Ukraine: the Ukrainian Football Association has also asked Fifa to throw Iran out of the World Cup. The rationale is that the country must have sold weapons and drones to Russia, which have been used in the war against Ukraine. Iran has denied this. They nevertheless recently admitted that they have sold drones to Russia, but that this happened before the war against Ukraine. Fifa has so far rejected all demands to suspend the team.
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Iranian profiles want Iran kicked out of the World Cup in Qatar – news Sport – Sports news, results and broadcast schedule
