Iran Allegedly Threatened World Cup Players’ Families Ahead Of US Match

The Iranian government reportedly threatened its national football team and the players’ families ahead of Iran's match against the United States.

The Iranian football team stood silently for their home country’s national anthem and declined to sing along during their game against England on Nov. 21 to show support to protesters back in their home country. The Iranian citizens have been protesting in Iran for over two months after 22-year-old Mahsa Amini who was arrested for improperly wearing her hijab reportedly died in police custody. After the team's support for the protesters at the World Cup, the Iranian government has threatened the families of the Iranian team with imprisonment and torture if the players fail to “behave” in Tuesday’s game against the United States, New York Post reported.

“Conditions in our country are not right, and our people are not happy,” Iranian team captain Ehsan Hajsafi told reporters after the game against England. Hajsafi further said that the victims’ families “should know that we are with them, we support them and we sympathize with them.”

After their demonstration during the match against England, the Iranian players had to meet with the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps. During the meeting, they were told that their families would face “violence and torture” if they did not sing the national anthem or if they joined any political protest against the Tehran regime, CNN reported.

The players reportedly sang the anthem before their second game against Wales last Friday, in which Iran defeated Wales by 2 goals.

According to a source who is closely monitoring Iran’s security agencies operating in Qatar, dozens of officers from the IRGC had been drafted in to monitor the Iranian players who are not allowed to mingle outside the squad or meet with foreigners.

“There are a large number of Iranian security officers in Qatar collecting information and monitoring the players,” the source said.

Carlos Queiroz, the Portuguese coach of Iran’s national team, reportedly met separately with IRGC officers following their threats to Iranian players and their families.

Iran and the US play against each other on Tuesday, Nov. 29 in a crucial Group B match. The match is a must-win game for the Americans to advance. Iran would reportedly move on to the knockout stage with a win or a tie.