In an apparent gesture of support for protesters at home, the Iranian national soccer team decided not to perform the national anthem before their opening World Cup match against England on Monday, Reuters reported.
According to the news agency, none of the starting 11 players reacted during the play of the national anthem at the Khalifa International Stadium.
State television in Iran then turned its feed away from their faces.
The team would decide “collectively” whether to refrain from singing in support of anti-government protestors, according to captain Alireza Jahanbakhsh, AFP reported.
The brief gatherings in support of the Iranian demonstrators were also seen in Qatar.
During the Iranian protests, the state police killed dozens of men and women.
The Chenab Times News Desk