Hashemi Taba: The day you called loving Iran a form of polytheism, the result was players not singing the national anthem.
Seyyed Mostafa Hashemi Taba wrote in the Shargh newspaper: The question these days is why our national football team suffered such a heavy defeat against England’s national team, and whether this team could have achieved a better result, or even won the match like Saudi Arabia did against Argentina.
With this unfocused team, a coach imposed for two months, and the social atmosphere reflected in the stadium, can we really expect victory? Our federation couldn’t even organize the spectators, something that other countries manage to do.
If we have an issue with the players not singing the anthem, let’s remember that in past years, loving Iran was denied and even called a form of polytheism, and this was never taught to athletes. When the feeling of loving Iran is negated, what is there to complain about?
If we want our national team to achieve a suitable result in the next two preliminary matches, let’s leave them alone. Politicians and other officials should keep their distance from the national team.