Soccer world reacts to Iranian national team's brave gesture

[SunSeeker]

Link to tweet

With the FIFA World Cup coming up in less than two months, even though FIFA (and especially Qatar) would like players to be apolitical, it’s a worldwide platform for players to shine a spotlight on what’s going on in their nation. And that’s what the Iranian men’s national team did in a friendly against Senegal in Vienna, Austria.

The team wore black jackets that covered up any Iranian emblems during the national anthem and kept their jackets on until just before kickoff.

Iran went further as goalscorer Sardar Azmoun refused to celebrate his 64th minute goal. This coming a few days after the Bayer Leverkusen forward posted (and deleted) an Instagram story saying that players were forbidden from speaking out and said that being kicked off the national team is a “small price to pay” and said, “Shame on you for easily killing the people and long live women of Iran.”

And while some say this is an empty gesture and that they shouldn’t have played the game, that small number of people saying that is missing the point. Full disclosure, maybe three people had that sentiment in over five minutes of scrolling for responses. Sure, they could always do more, but these players are forcing the entire world to look at what is going on in Iran in a way that not even news people can do. The news can report what’s going on, but that can be tuned out if you try hard enough. But if you’re watching a soccer game that has players wearing all black to support the protests, maybe it means others become aware and support the cause.

http://amp.thecomeback.com/soccer/soccer-to-iran-national-team-protest.html

[FreepFryer]

1. there is a long tradition of international athletes criticizing their governments abuses.

may these Iranian men all continue to enjoy their careers and perhaps someday one of them can help show Iran a way out of the darkness again.

[Ponietz]

2. No apparent problem with corporate logos

[SunSeeker]

3. I don't think that jacket manufacturer killed a 22 year old women for hair showing under her hijab.

So I guess these players are picking their battles.