The families of the players of the Iranian soccer team at the World Cup in Qatar “have been threatened with arrest and torture if the players do not behave well before the match against the United States”, scheduled for today and crucial for the Group B verdicts. writes CNN, citing “a source involved in tournament security”. Following Iranian footballers’ refusal to sing the nation’s national anthem in their opening match against England on Nov. 21, the source said the players were summoned to a meeting with members of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps. They were reportedly told on that occasion that their families would face “violence and torture” if they did not sing the national anthem or join any political protests against the regime in Tehran.
Players sang the anthem ahead of the second match against Wales last Friday, which saw a 2-0 victory for Iran. The source cited by CNN, who is closely monitoring Iranian security agencies operating in Qatar during the World Cup period, said dozens of Revolutionary Guards officers are busy surveilling Iranian players who are not allowed to socialize. outside the team or meeting foreigners. “There are a large number of Iranian security agents in Qatar collecting information and monitoring players,” the source said.
Carlos Queiroz, the Portuguese coach of the Iranian national team, met separately with Revolutionary Guards officers following their threats against the players and their families, the source said, saying he did not know the content of this alleged conversation. Queiroz said Iranian players can protest at the World Cup, but only under FIFA regulations.
The players, the source said, had been promised “gifts and cars” ahead of the England match, but the regime, the source said, had moved on to threaten the players and their families after the humiliation of their refusal. team to sing the national anthem.
“In the last match against Wales, the regime sent hundreds of fake supporters to create a false sense of support and favor among the fans. For the next match against the USA, the regime plans to significantly increase the number of fake supporters by the thousands,” the source said.
