World Cup 2022: Iran players sing national anthem before Wales game

Iran's players didn't sing their national anthem before their opener against England.

Iran fans in the stadium jeered as the players joined in with the anthem.

There have been mass protests in Iran recently.

They were sparked by the death in custody in September of a woman who was arrested for wearing a head covering.

There was a woman in the crowd with tears in her eyes and a football jersey.

According to human rights activists, more than 400 protesters have been killed and more than 17,000 others arrested in Iran.

Iran's leaders say the protests are staged by the country's enemies.

Iran's Mehdi Taremi said before the game that the players were not under any pressure because they didn't sing the anthem.

All the players who are present in Qatar have come here to play football, he said.

Thousands of other people like me can't change anything.

Iran manager Carlos Queiroz, who is from Portugal, was sitting next to Taremi at the news conference and said, "It's your right to do those questions, but what if you don't ask the same questions?"

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