The government has not ruled out granting asylum to the Iran players who yesterday made a remarkable gesture of protest against their country’s conservative regime by refusing to sing the national anthem before the World Cup defeat to England.
Despite warnings of repercussions made directly to members of Carlos Queiroz’s squad ahead of the tournament and a wider threat of sanctions including the death penalty for protestors, the team gave their anthem the silent treatment at Khalifa Stadium while supporters who waved flags asking for freedom for women jeered.
That reaction has been met with concerns that the players, nine of whom play for Iranian clubs, could end up being punished.
