Atlanta, United States (CNN) – A source concerned about World Cup game safety revealed in statements to CNN that the families of Iran’s national team players were “threatened with imprisonment and torture” if “the players did not behave well.”
The players of the Iranian national team had refrained from singing the national anthem in their first match of the Qatar 2022 World Cup against England, in solidarity with the Iranian protesters who have been participating in protests since last September, following the death of the young Mahsa Amini , after being arrested by “Iran’s morality police”.
The source said the players were summoned to meet members of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards after they refused to sing the national anthem in the opening match against England.
The source added that the players were told their families would face “violence and torture” if they did not sing the anthem or join any political protests against the ruling Iranian regime.
The source went on to say the players had been promised “gifts and cars” ahead of the England match, but the ruling regime, the source said, threatened the players and their families after the team broke down. refused to sing the anthem.
Iranian players sang the national anthem before their second match against Wales. The Iranian national team will play its third World Cup match in Qatar on Tuesday against the US national team.
