Iranian players did not sing their national anthem before their opening game at the FIFA World Cup in Qatar against England. This gesture made Iranian fans emotional, as some women in the audience even broke down. Ahead of the game, Captain Alireza Jahanbakhsh said the team would "collectively" decide whether or not to refuse to sing the anthem in support of the anti-hijab stir. And it is clear that they chose to stand for the massive movement back home. Defender Ehsan Hajsafi even said Iran's World Cup players are the "voice" of the people. 

In a striking act of solidarity with protesters in Iran, the men’s national football team decided not to sing the national anthem in its opening World Cup game against England.

The unrest in Iran began in September when a 22-year-old woman, Mahsa Amini, died while in the custody of the morality police. Protests have since spread across the nation, challenging the authority of the government even as security forces have cracked down. Hundreds of people have died in the violence.

The decision not to sing the national anthem isn’t the first time the Iranian team has shown support for the protesters. In late September, the team opted to wear black jackets to cover the country’s colours in their friendly against Senegal.

(With inputs from agencies)