Iran’s women’s football team, which refused to sing the national anthem in protest against the Islamic regime during their opening Asian Cup match, has been labelled traitors by state television, sparking fears among the players as they prepare to return home.
The players remained silent during the national anthem ahead of their match against South Korea at the Gold Coast, an act seen by the international community as a silent protest against Tehran amid the ongoing war. However, they later sang the national anthem and saluted their flag during the match against the Matildas on Thursday night.
A conservative pro-regime TV presenter, Mohammad Reza Shahbazi, called out the players in response to their silence. "In times of war, traitors must be dealt with more harshly. Anyone who takes even a single step against the country during wartime must face stronger consequences,” he said.
"Take this issue of not singing the national anthem in our women’s football team and that photo that was published. This is no longer some symbolic protest or demonstration. In wartime conditions, going there and refusing to sing the national anthem is the height of shamelessness and betrayal. The disgrace of this shameless betrayal should remain on their shoulders, and they must be properly dealt with so that others take a warning from it," Shahbazi added.
Under the Islamic Republic’s penal code, charges of corruption or treason can lead to lengthy prison sentences or even the death penalty in rare cases.
There has been no clarification on when and how the players will return to Iran, with ongoing airspace closures hampering the country’s inbound and outbound flights.
Also read: Death toll in Iran from US-Israel strikes rises to 1,045
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