Some Iranian soccer fans are supporting anti-government demonstrators on the FIFA World Cup stage. While abstaining from singing during the playing of their national anthem during their World Cup match against Wales earlier this week in apparent support of demonstrators at home, Iran’s national soccer squad did so on Friday during their second encounter against Wales. One of the strongest threats to Iran’s clerical leadership since the 1979 Islamic revolution, the Iranian authorities used lethal force to put an end to the protests demanding the overthrow of the Islamic Republic. With their own chanting, supporters carrying the official Iranian flag attempted to drown them out.
Ebrahim Raisi, the president of Iran, is a member of the conservative establishment who has denounced the demonstrations as riots instigated by Iran’s enemies. He praised the players for “bringing the sweetness of victory to the people of our country.”
