Iran's footballers face a daunting challenge in finding their voice as the regime cracks down on protests, cutting off internet access and silencing dissenting voices. Mehdi Taremi, the Iranian striker, refused to celebrate his goal with Olympiakos despite being a national hero, choosing instead to show solidarity with the protesters back home. "There are problems between the people and the government," he said, citing concerns about the country's economic and social woes. "The people are always with us, and that's why we are with them." Taremi's words echo those of his fellow footballer Ali Daei, who was blacklisted after backing protests in 2022.
Iranian football has long been a platform for dissenting voices, but the regime's brutal response to anti-government unrest is stifling expression. When Iran qualified for the World Cup in 1998, players were told to delay their return to celebrate. In 2010, several players wore green armbands in support of opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi during protests over a disputed election. But speaking out against the regime comes with significant risks.
Voria Ghafouri, the former captain of Tehran Esteghlal, recently announced that he was closing his cafes in solidarity with protesters. Fars News Agency warned of repercussions, saying "these unrests will soon come to an end, but the real test for officials of the football federation will begin afterwards, when they must show that calls for chaos will receive a firm response."
Iranian footballers are increasingly finding it difficult to navigate this treacherous landscape. Taremi has criticized the state of facilities back home, including Azadi Stadium, and asked why there is reluctance to allow big crowds to gather. He was part of the team that did not sing the national anthem in the first game against England at the 2022 World Cup.
Carlos Queiroz, the head coach of Iran's team, has been vocal about his concerns. In Qatar three years ago, he grew frustrated with constant questions from Western media on protests back home rather than football issues. Now, as Iran is cut off from the world, there is a desire for more questions and information.
Queiroz recently posted a line attributed to Iranian poet Ahmad Shamlou, which reads "Freedom is breathing in an air where there is no lie." He added, "My beloved Players, Staff and Friends. I have spent many years among the Iranian people – players, staff, families, friends – and I know their dignity, warmth and resilience. My heart and thoughts are with the people of Iran during these difficult but challenging days of hope."
The Iranian football team's silence is a symptom of a broader crisis. The regime's brutal response to protests has sent shockwaves across the country, leaving many wondering when and if dissenting voices will be heard again.
Iranian football has long been a platform for dissenting voices, but the regime's brutal response to anti-government unrest is stifling expression. When Iran qualified for the World Cup in 1998, players were told to delay their return to celebrate. In 2010, several players wore green armbands in support of opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi during protests over a disputed election. But speaking out against the regime comes with significant risks.
Voria Ghafouri, the former captain of Tehran Esteghlal, recently announced that he was closing his cafes in solidarity with protesters. Fars News Agency warned of repercussions, saying "these unrests will soon come to an end, but the real test for officials of the football federation will begin afterwards, when they must show that calls for chaos will receive a firm response."
Iranian footballers are increasingly finding it difficult to navigate this treacherous landscape. Taremi has criticized the state of facilities back home, including Azadi Stadium, and asked why there is reluctance to allow big crowds to gather. He was part of the team that did not sing the national anthem in the first game against England at the 2022 World Cup.
Carlos Queiroz, the head coach of Iran's team, has been vocal about his concerns. In Qatar three years ago, he grew frustrated with constant questions from Western media on protests back home rather than football issues. Now, as Iran is cut off from the world, there is a desire for more questions and information.
Queiroz recently posted a line attributed to Iranian poet Ahmad Shamlou, which reads "Freedom is breathing in an air where there is no lie." He added, "My beloved Players, Staff and Friends. I have spent many years among the Iranian people – players, staff, families, friends – and I know their dignity, warmth and resilience. My heart and thoughts are with the people of Iran during these difficult but challenging days of hope."
The Iranian football team's silence is a symptom of a broader crisis. The regime's brutal response to protests has sent shockwaves across the country, leaving many wondering when and if dissenting voices will be heard again.
. It's like they're caught in a real-life game of moral espionage. I get it, the regime is cracking down hard on protests, but that doesn't mean they can silence dissenting voices through sports. The thing is, football has always been this amazing platform for people to express themselves and show solidarity with their communities 
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. I wish more people could have a voice in this situation. Carlos Queiroz saying that freedom is breathing in an air where there is no lie really resonates with me. We need to support each other and speak truth to power 
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. Meanwhile, I hope these footballers can find a way to continue speaking out without putting themselves in danger 
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You see this Taremi guy, he's choosing to speak out even though it means he'll face some serious backlash from the regime... but what if that silence is actually a test of his own courage? Is he really just speaking out for himself or for all those protesters back home? 
That's like living in a constant state of fear. So yeah, Taremi's speaking out might not be easy, but maybe it's actually kinda necessary. 
just saw that Iran's footballers are literally walking on eggshells because of the government crackdown 
. mehdi taremi's decision to not celebrate his goal was so bold and i love it 
. but at the same time, it's scaring when you think about what he and other players might be going through 
. it's not just them, tho - even the coach is feeling the pressure 
. can't wait for things to calm down in iran and we can start seeing more of their beautiful football again 
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And on top of that, there's this whole regime thing that's just super toxic... it feels like the government is more worried about maintaining power than doing what's right for its people 
It shows that even in the midst of all this chaos, there are still people who care about the well-being of others... and I think we could learn a thing or two from them 
The Iranian football team's silence might be a symptom of a bigger problem, but it's also kinda a testament to how hard it is for dissenting voices to be heard in the first place 
. Footballers are being really brave by speaking out, but it's scary for them too - they could get in trouble for their opinions 
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. We should be supporting the Iranian people and their right to free speech, not just the football team 
They're literally being silenced. And what about Carlos Queiroz saying that freedom means "breathing in an air where there is no lie"? Isn't that kinda obvious? 
I hope everyone stays safe over there, but honestly, it feels like the regime doesn't care about its own people's well-being. 
. I get why they wouldn't want to celebrate goals or show their support for protests, but at the same time, it feels like they're being silenced 
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. He's showing that there are still people who care about what's going on in Iran and want to support the country 
. It's a symptom of a much larger crisis in the country and we need to be paying attention 
. We can't just ignore the struggles of the Iranian people or their government's brutal response to protests 
. And then you got players like Taremi and Ghafouri speaking out, risking their careers for a chance to show some solidarity.
. It's time someone held them accountable, and I'm not sure if Iranian football is going to be enough to do it 
why can't they allow big crowds to gather? its all about finding a balance between freedom of expression and keeping the peace, you know?
. Mehdi Taremi's refusal to celebrate his goal is just one example of how footballers are trying to show solidarity with the people back home 
. It shows that even in the face of adversity, people are still trying to find ways to express themselves and bring attention to the issues at hand 
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. We also need to be holding the regime accountable for its actions, rather than turning a blind eye.
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