©PA
A silence that says more than a thousand words: the Iranian women's team chose not to sing the national anthem before the opening match of the Asian Cup in Australia against South Korea, which they eventually lost 3-0.
The players, led by coach Marziyeh Jafari, remained silent and starred straight ahead. The gesture conveys a powerful message: the team wanted to dissociate itself from the dynamics of the regime while participating in the sporting competition, avoiding any direct comment on the war in the Middle East and the recent death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. It was a courageous act of protest, a political and personal stance far from insignificant in a dictatorial climate such as Iran's, where everything is placed under surveillance, and which, for this very reason, immediately attracted the attention of the international media.
The Australian players expressed their solidarity with their opponents: midfielder Amy Sayer declared:
"Our thoughts are with them and their families. It's a difficult situation and it's really brave of them to be here and playing. The best way for us to contribute is simply to give them the best game we can and show them respect on the pitch."
The decision not to sing the anthem is reminiscent of what happened with the men's team at the 2022 World Cup, when the players were reluctantly forced to sing it. This time, on the contrary, the women's footballers stood their ground without yielding to outside pressure, demonstrating a civic courage uncommon in international sport.
As we all know, the women's team's silence comes against a backdrop of very high political tension in Iran. Suffice it to recall that in recent days, former goalkeeper Rashid Mazaheri disappeared after publishing posts against the regime and the figure of Khamenei. A chilling episode that shows just how extreme and dramatic the consequences of expressing dissent in the country can be, and makes the players' protest all the more significant.
(©GreenMe.it 2026 / Managing Editor : Selma Keshkire - The Press Junction / Picture : Picture Alliance - Pacific Press - Sobhan Farajvan)