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‘We support them, we support them’: Ehsan Hajsafi becomes first Iranian player to publicly SUPPORT protesters challenging the Iranian regime ahead of his country’s first match against England at the World Cup
Iranian defender Ehsan Hajsafi became the first member of his team to speak out during the World Cup in support of anti-government protests at home, saying players should be the voice of those who are suffering.
More than two months of protests in Iran, sparked by the death of a 22-year-old woman, Mahsa Amini, while detained by the country’s vice squad, have led to one of the boldest challenges to its ecclesiastical leaders since the Islamic Revolution of 1979.
Iran’s national team has been in the spotlight ahead of the World Cup in Qatar, with the expectation of whether players will use football’s showpiece as a platform to show solidarity with the protest movement.
“They need to know we’re with them. And we support them. And we sympathize with them on the terms,” Hajsafi, who plays for Greek team AEK Athens, told a press conference.
Iranian defender Ehsan Hajsafi publicly supported protests against the Iranian regime at a press conference on Sunday ahead of the World Cup match against England
Protesters have created one of the most daring challenges for their leaders following the death of a 22-year-old woman in the custody of the country’s morality police
Hajsafi said Iran’s World Cup team ‘should be their voice’ and ‘people are not happy’
“We have to accept that the conditions in our country are not good and our people are not happy,” he said. “We’re here, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be their voice or respect them.”
The wave of unrest erupted in September after Kurdish-Iranian woman Amini died in vice police custody after being arrested for wearing “inappropriate” clothing. The Iranian government blames foreign enemies for the crisis.
Some Iranian sportsmen and women have made gestures perceived by protesters as expressions of support, including not singing the national anthem or celebrating victories on the pitch.
According to the activist news agency HRANA, 410 protesters had died in the unrest on Friday, including 58 minors.
Other members of the team have so far avoided discussing politics in public. Players Karim Ansarifard and Morteza Pouraliganji refused to answer questions on Friday about solidarity with women in Iran.
Iran is preparing to play against England, Wales and the United States at the World Cup in Qatar
Last week, Iranian star Alireza Jahanbakhsh said questions about protests were a diversion from the English media
Midfielder Alireza Jahanbakhsh, who plays for Dutch club Feyenoord, suggested on Thursday that such questions were a ploy to distract the team.
“I’m not surprised you’re asking this question,” he said. “I assume you’re from the English media.
“To be honest, I’m not sure if England weren’t in our group, you would have come up with this question first. And secondly, we’ve been doing this with all the UK media for a few weeks now – these have been all the headlines as we get closer to the World Cup, whatever the reason.’
Coach Carlos Queiroz said he should be paid to talk about the situation in Iran.
“How much are you paying me to answer that question? You are a private company, how much will you pay me?’ said the Portuguese.
“Talk to your boss and at the end of the World Cup I can give you the answer if you make me a good offer.”
Meanwhile, Bayer Leverkusen striker Sardar Azmoun was selected for the team despite publicly supporting the protests in the past.
Iran will start its World Cup campaign against England on Monday.