Iranian Players Mumble through National Anthem at World Cup after Alleged Government Threats

Iran’s World Cup soccer team unenthusiastically sang the country’s national anthem ahead of a match against the U.S. team on Tuesday after the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps reportedly threatened the families of Iranian players with imprisonment and torture if the players did not “behave.”

A source told CNN that players were called to a meeting with members of the IRGC after the team failed to sing the country’s national anthem during their opening match against England last week. The IRGC reportedly warned afterward that players who did not sing the national anthem or who participated in any political protest against the Iranian government would leave their families subject to “violence and torture” as retribution.

On Tuesday, most of the team sang the national anthem, while several stayed quiet. The team also sang the nation’s anthem on Friday ahead of their game against Wales.

“There are a large number of Iranian security officers in Qatar collecting information and monitoring the players,” the source told CNN, adding that players are not allowed to meet with foreigners during the World Cup.

Widespread protests in Iran began on September 17 at the funeral of Mahsa Amini, who was arrested in Tehran by Iran’s “morality police” for allegedly wearing her hijab too loosely on September 13. She died three days later.

While Iranian officials have said that Amini died of a heart attack, her family says she was “severely beaten” while in custody. A lawyer for the family said “respectable doctors” believe she was beaten while in custody. Her death has sparked weeks of protests across Iran, in which some women have burned their hijabs and publicly chopped off their hair.

The captain of Iran’s national men’s soccer team spoke in support of the anti-government protests last week. 

“I would like to express my condolences to all bereaved families in Iran,” Ehsan Hajsafi said at a news conference. “They should know that we are with them. And we support them. And we sympathize with them regarding the conditions.”

“We have to accept the conditions in our country are not right and our people are not happy,” he added. “We are here but it does not mean we should not be their voice or we should not respect them.”