Iranian players didn't sing their national anthem before their opening World Cup match against England this afternoon.
The players stood silently on the pitch while the national anthem played in what is being seen by many as a protest against the current regime after months of unrest. Some Team Melli fans at the Khalifa International Stadium could be heard jeering to drown out the sound of the anthem before the match.
Hundreds of protestors have died in Iran's capital, Tehran, and other major cities following the death of Mahsa Amini, who died in police custody. The 22-year-old woman was arrested under Iran's strict law around women's dressing, and was accused of not wearing her hijab correctly.
