Kurdish regions have been a focus of anti-government protests since the death of Kurdish-Iranian woman Mahsa Amini in the custody of the morality police in September.
While the national anthem played ahead of the national team's first game against England, the players stood silently, refusing to sing. Their decision was met with raucous cheers from the Iran fans, who tried to drown out the anthem with boos for the music and cheers of support for the players. Some applauded with tears in their eyes.
