Iran wants its national football team to lose World Cup; Details inside-

The Iran football team has been at the eye of the storm over its participation in the FIFA World Cup amid hijab protests that is gripping the country for a few months now. The squad, known as Team Melli, was criticised by Iranian activist Masih Alinejad, who said that the football team doesn't represent the people of Iran, but the government.

 

"Iran is the only country in the World Cup that its people want their national football team to lose since the team doesn't represent the people but the regime," Alinejad posted on Twitter.

 

 

It should be noted that her tweet comes hours after the Iran football team refused to sing the national anthem ahead of their opening match against England as a mark of protest. This is being widely seen in solidarity with the ongoing protests in Iran, following the death of the 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, by the “morality police.”

 

However, the players have been caught between Iranian officials who want them to show loyalty to Tehran's embattled Islamic establishment and the team's mainly young fans who have urged the footballers to show solidarity with the protests over Mahsa Amini.