• Iran's World Cup team refused to sing their country's national anthem on Monday.
  • Players could be seen in videos not singing as the song played before their game against England. 
  • The defiant move was in apparent solidarity with anti-government demonstrators back home

Iran's World Cup soccer team opted not to sing the country's national anthem ahead of their opening game against England on Monday in what appeared to be an act of solidarity with anti-government demonstrators back home. 

Videos published to social media show the Iranian players listening, but not singing, as the national anthem rings throughout the stadium in the background. Some players appeared to look straight ahead without much expression.

Iran's captain, 32-year-old Ehsan Hajsafi, told reporters ahead of Monday's contest that the team supports the protesters and expressed sympathy for the families of individuals who have been killed by police, the BBC reported.

"We have to accept that the conditions in our country are not right and our people are not happy," he said, according to the BBC.

"Before anything else, I would like to express my condolences to all of the bereaved families in Iran," he said, according to the outlet. "They should know that we are with them. We support them, and we sympathize with them." 

 

According to a report from Wall Street Journal, the team previously faced criticism for not speaking out ahead of their arrival in Qatar and also for meeting with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi. 

Protests have gripped Iran over the last few months after a young woman died while in police custody after she was accused of not properly wearing a hijab, as is required under state law. Thousands have been detained across the country, with many facing vague charges related to national security concerns, according to Human Rights Watch.

Norway-based Iran Human Rights Organization said Saturday that at least 378 people, including dozens of children, have been killed by the country's security forces throughout the nationwide demonstrations.   

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