"About 10 Revolutionary Guards Monitoring the Team"
[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] The Iranian government reportedly forced the national anthem on the players representing the country at the Qatar World Cup and threatened that if they refused to sing it, their families in Iran could be subjected to violence and torture.
On the 28th (local time), CNN cited sources from the Iranian World Cup team, reporting, "Members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) dispatched with the team summoned the players and threatened that if they did not sing the national anthem during the third match against the United States, their families in Iran could face detention and torture." It added, "The IRGC selected about ten members to accompany the team, and they are monitoring whether the players defect or meet foreigners."
Earlier, the Iranian team players refused to sing the national anthem before their first group match against England on the 21st, sparking international attention. By showing a 'silent protest' supporting anti-government demonstrations in Iran, criticism against the Iranian government related to the protests poured in both inside and outside Iran.
Subsequently, under pressure from authorities, the Iranian players sang the national anthem during the second group match against Wales on the 25th. Before the second match, Carlos Queiroz, the Iranian team coach, reportedly met individually with the IRGC members who threatened the players, although CNN reported that the specific details of their conversation were not disclosed.
The Iranian government appears to have emphasized the players singing the national anthem even more ahead of the third match against the United States. Previously, the United States Soccer Federation stirred controversy by posting a flag on its official Twitter and various social media accounts that removed the Islamic emblem located in the center of the Iranian flag.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
