Hajsafi offers support to Bereaved families in Iran ahead of England opener

Iran captain Ehsan Hajsafi called for change and sent condolences to bereaved families ahead of their World Cup opener against England.

There have been calls for Iran to be kicked out of the World Cup having acknowledged supplying weapons to Russiaontopofthecontinued oppressive response to those protesting for gender equality in Iran – the death of Mahsa Amini sparked widespread protests in September after

the 22-year-old died in custody havingbeendetainedforallegedly failing to follow the country's Islamic dress code.

Iran Human Rights reported this weekend that at least 378 people have been killed by security forces in the ongoing nationwide protests, with more than 40 killed by state securityforcesinthelastweek.

More than 15,000 protestors have reportedly been detained and Iran captain Hajsafi started yesterday’s press conference ahead of today’s Group B clash by saying: “I would like to express my condolences to all ofthebereavedfamiliesiniran. They should know we are with them, we support them and sympathise with them.”

Team-matesamanghoddos, who plays for Brentford, spoke about the need for “freedom” in a recent interview, saying “something needs to change”.

Ex-brighton winger Alireza Jahanbakhsh this week accused the English media of trying to destabilise the Iranian team with questions about protests at home, but Hajsafi said: “We cannot deny the conditions in my country are not good. But we are going to have a very important game.

“We hope to reach a favourable result and make our people happy.”