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Iran turmoil mars World Cup match
IRAN’S political turmoil has cast a shadow over its second match at the World Cup, with progovernment fans harassing anti- government fans outside the stadium in Qatar. Some Iran fans confiscated Persian pre- revolutionary Iranian flags from supporters entering the stadium and shouted insults at those wearing shirts bearing the slogan “Woman, Life, Freedom” – used by the country’s protest movement. The term became a rallying cry after the death of protester Mahsa Amini
Small mobs of men angrily chanted “the Islamic Republic of Iran” at women giving interviews about the protests to foreign media outside the stadium.
Shouting matches erupted outside the security checkpoint at the stadium between fans shouting “women, life, freedom” and others yelling back “the Islamic Republic”.
Many female fans were visibly shaken as Iranian government supporters surrounded them with national flags and filmed them on their phones.
Maryam, 35, started to cry as shouting men blowing horns surrounded her and filmed her face up close. She had “Woman, Life, Freedom” painted on her face.
Another woman, Vanya, 21, who lives in Qatar, said she is terrified to ever go back to Iran after her experience outside the stadium.
“I’m genuinely afraid for my safety here,” she said.
A group of fans wearing hats with the name of the Iranian former football player Voria Ghafori, who was arrested in Iran on Thursday, said they had their hats stolen.
And some said stadium security removed items with messages in support of the protest movement.
Security guards later confirmed authorities ordered confiscations.