"When any team participates in a FIFA-regulated tournament, whether Asian Football Confederation or any other confederation, they must have the right to safety and external support to express any concerns they have around their safety now or in future."
"We all have very reasonable and serious concerns for their safety. We didn't expect it to be honest because we know it's a really major [thing] to do, regarding the team's decision to initially stay silent during the national anthem."
Iran's women's football team faced significant safety concerns following their participation in the Asian Cup in Australia. The team initially declined to sing the national anthem before their first match against South Korea, which drew criticism from conservative commentators in Iran who accused them of being traitors. In subsequent matches, the team sang and saluted during the anthem, leading observers to believe they were coerced by members of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps accompanying the delegation. Football governing bodies and Australian authorities are being urged to ensure the team's safety as they prepare to return home. Hundreds of Australian-Iranian community members gathered to support the team during their final match.
#iran-womens-football #national-anthem-protest #human-rights-concerns #asian-cup #safety-and-coercion
Read at www.bbc.com
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