Ex-Bafana coach Queiroz gives players platform to protest over women’s rights
Ex-Bafana Bafana coach Carlos Queiroz has given his troops the free will to protest for women’s rights in their country during their participation at the FIFA World Cup set to take place in Qatar in four days to come.
The protests in Iran started two months ago over clerical establishment following the death of Mahsa Amini in custody.
According to reports, the 22-year-old woman was arrested by morality police for allegedly breaking the country’s rules of head coverings.
However, Iran’s leaders reckon that the protests were started by “the country’s foreign enemies.”
Iran, coached by Queiroz are drawn in Group B alongside England, Wales and the USA.
The former Bafana Bafana and Egypt mentor, Queiroz, stated that the protests should go hand to hand with the World Cup’s rules and regulations.
In September this year, Iran players covered their national team badge during their two friendly internationals.
According to Iran Human Rights, about 326 protesters have been killed by security forces so far.
“The players are free to protest as they would if they were from any other country,” said the 69-year-old coach as quoted by BBC Sport.
“As long as it conforms with the World Cup regulations and is in the spirit of the game.
“But you can also express yourself on the field in the game of football and the players have only one thing on their mind and that is to fight to qualify for the second round.”
IRAN WORLD CUP SQUAD
GOALKEEPERS
Alireza Beiranvand [Persepolis], Hossein Hosseini [Esteghlal], Payam Niazmand [Sepahan], Amir Abedzadeh [Ponferradina].
DEFENDERS
Ramin Rezaeian [Sepahan], Abolfazl Jalali [Esteghlal], Hossein Kananizadegan [Al Ahli SC], Shoja Khalilzadeh [Al Ahli SC], Mortza Pouraliganji [Persepolis], Majid Hosseini [Kayserispor], Sadegh Moharrami [Dinamo Zagreb], Milad Mohammadi [AEK], Ehsan Hajisafi [AEK].
MIDFIELDERS
Saeid Ezatolahi [Vejle Boldklub], Ahmad Nourollahi [Shabab Al Ahli], Ali Karimi [Kayserispor], Rouzbeh Cheshmi [Esteghlal], Vahid Amiri [Persepolis], Mehdi Torabi [Persepolis], Alireza Jahanbakhsh [Feyenoord], Ali Gholizadeh [Charleroi], Saman Ghoddos [Brentford].
FORWARDS
Sardar Azmoun [Bayer Leverkusen], Karim Ansarifard [Omonia], Mehdi Taremi [Porto].