The Iranian women’s national soccer team staged a silent protest during the Women’s Asian Cup opening match by refusing to sing their national anthem. The players, including head coach Marziyeh Jafari, stood in silence without singing as the anthem played at Cbus Super Stadium on the Gold Coast. This protest followed the death of Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Israeli and U.S. strikes.
Iran captain Zahra Ghanbari and Coach Jafari faced questions about Khamenei’s death during a media session. However, the questioning was abruptly halted by an AFC media representative who redirected the focus back to the upcoming game. Despite the protest, South Korea emerged victorious in the match with goals from Choe Yu-ri, Kim Hye-ri, and Ko Yoo-jin.
Coach Jafari expressed satisfaction with the performance of Team Melli Banovan, despite the defeat against South Korea. She acknowledged the tough challenge posed by the Korean team, congratulating them on their strong play. Jafari highlighted the team’s strategic adjustments during the game, emphasizing both positive aspects and areas for improvement in their performance.
