CNN reports that the Iranian government has threatened the families of Iran’s national team members.
CNN, quoting an informed source, has reported that the Iranian government has pressured the national team players by threatening their families to prevent any protest behavior from them.
CNN states that the source of this report is from the security personnel involved in the Qatar 2022 World Cup games.
This source has said that after the players refused to sing the national anthem in the first match against England, they were called to a meeting with members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, where they were told that if they did not sing the national anthem or took any protest action against the government, their families would face imprisonment and torture.
CNN also reported, quoting this source, that Carlos Queiroz, Iran’s head coach, had a separate meeting with members of the Guard.
The refusal to sing the national anthem by the Iranian national team players in the first match against England received widespread coverage in global media, but in the second match against Wales, the players joined in with the national anthem.