Why Iran’s players are under more pressure than any other World Cup side
Why Iran’s players are under more pressure than any other World Cup side. After Iran’s 1-0 friendly win against Uruguay on Sunday, Sardar Azmoun posted the following to Instagram: “I am not allowed to publicly express my opinions within the national team due to the rules that govern us.”
I know if I say this out loud, they might send me home, but I can’t stand it any longer!
You can never forget this, and it will always weigh heavily on your mind. How embarrassing! It’s simple for you to take life. Iranian women, long may you live!”
The allusion was unmistakable. In the wake of the death in detention of Mahsa Amini, who was held after being arrested by the so-called “morality police,” protests have shaken Iran from the capital city of Teheran to the smallest rural towns. At 22, she was an adult.
Her brother, who was present during her arrest, claims that she was reprimanded for improperly donning her hijab.
Azmoun’s post quickly went viral, as he has over 5 million followers.
Statements
My colleague Mark Ogden noted last week that it fueled the fire of people desiring a change in a country and a national team who were already on edge from playing in insulated, even unreal settings. On Monday night, Iran and Senegal played another friendly, ending in a 1-1 draw.
Before the game, the Iranian players made a point of stepping out in black jackets, a move many interpreted as a protest.
The 27-year-old striker, who currently plays for Bundesliga club Bayer Leverkusen, was hailed as a hero by both the Iranian government and the worldwide Iranian diaspora. His original comment was deleted, and then his entire account was terminated.
On Wednesday, the account reappeared, but this time it seemed like Azmoun had changed his mind.
Because of my actions, several of my close friends on the national team became frustrated, and some of their fans even ridiculed the team.
I feel obligated to apologize to the players of the national team. “It was my fault that this happened since it was not fair. If there was a breakdown in team unity and harmony, I take full responsibility and feel profound shame in front of the entire national team and the coaching staff.”
How come? We don’t know, yet many people will make assumptions about it anyhow. Those who say politics has no place in sports are either in denial or hiding their heads like ostrich.
Countries
It is currently present and has been for some time. Simply put, few endeavors, especially international endeavors, can compete with the visibility and scale of football. And nothing compares to the World Cup, in which Iran will be competing alongside the USA, the UK, and Wales in Doha, Qatar, this coming November.
On November 21, Iran will play England in the opening game of their World Cup campaign. What do they do when they step onto the pitch with billions of people watching (assuming Azmoun and his colleagues haven’t suddenly altered their minds; he was one of just two who aired their opinions so openly on social media, while many others darkened out their profiles in solidarity)?
How will the government respond if the protests aren’t put down? Hopefully not with violent repression, but with greater open-mindedness, tolerance, and respect for women’s rights.
How does Qatar, the host country and close historical ally of Iran, respond? Last but not least, what action does FIFA take?
Let’s focus on the last two, which are the simplest to implement. Like Iran, Qatar is a Muslim country headed by a royal family that has been criticized for human rights violations, especially with regard to LGBTQ issues and the rights of migrant workers.
Women of the Muslim faith are not compelled to wear headscarves in Qatar, and the country does not employ a “morality police” like Iran does (though many do so by choice or custom). Considering the international attention, Iran cannot pressure Qatar to change its policies of openness and inclusivity (at least for the duration of the tournament).
FIFA does have rules prohibiting political, religious, and personal expression. As social mores have shifted over time, however, what was once a strict position has become more relaxed. After Norway and Germany last year exhibited a human rights message directed straight at Qatar, FIFA did not take any action because they “believe in freedom of speech and in the power of football as a force for good.”
In addition, FIFA president Gianni Infantino stated that players should be treated with “applause and not punishment” when they began taking a knee or showing solidarity for demonstrators after George Floyd’s death.
It’s even more unlikely that anything will be done now that the captains of nine European countries at the World Cup will be wearing armbands with a rainbow flag and the words “One Love.”
Although the armbands don’t specifically address Qatar’s treatment of migrant workers or the safety of LGBTQ populations, the message is clear from the FA’s press release.
Result
As a result, the players and the Iranian government are left with a huge question mark. Coach Carlos Queiroz has called up 27 players for the last two friendlies, 16 of whom play for clubs outside of Iran at the present time and another seven of whom have played professionally elsewhere.
It’s hardly unexpected that many people can relate to the demonstrators’ demands for equality for women, as they themselves have experienced a different social norm.
Furthermore, the enormous popularity of “Team Melli” (as the Iranian national side is known) and the big platform it affords them pose a danger to the more conservative sections of the Iranian leadership.
Most have ties to Iran, including friends and business associates, and could suffer consequences if they speak out publicly in Qatar.
But it could be the final straw that ushers in a more equitable and less restrictive society for women, and they might never have such a public platform again.
We are already six weeks distant from the World Cup, and these are the pressures that Team Melli faces. Don’t go telling the fans that football isn’t the place for political or social statements. That boat left the harbor a very long time ago.
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