Iran coach Carlos Queiroz confirmed on Tuesday that the squad’s players are free to show solidarity with their country’s protests over women’s rights as they attend the FIFA World Cup in Qatar, but must do so within the rules of the tournament.
Human rights activists news agency (Hrana) said 344 people were killed and 15,280 arrested during the past two months of nationwide protests over the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini while in police custody moral.
Iranian players covered the national team crest on their shirts when they played two international friendlies last September, which was interpreted as a sign of support for the protests, then in Doha, where they trained for the first time on Tuesday.
Queiroz said at a press conference: Players are free to protest as long as it complies with World Cup regulations and the spirit of the sport, but you can also express yourself on the pitch in the sport of soccer and players have only one thing on their mind. and that is to fight to qualify for the role.
Iran has fallen into a tough group including England, Wales and the United States, while failing to reach the second round in five previous finals they have contested.