The Power of Silence: Iranian Soccer Players' Quiet Resistance The recent news that two members of the Iranian women's soccer team who claimed asylum in Australia had refused to sing the national anthem during a match in March has sparked a wider conversation about the implications of their actions.
Atefeh Ramezanisadeh and Fatemeh Pasandideh, now players for the Wynnum Wolves semi professional soccer team in Brisbane, have come forward to explain that their silence was a protest against Tehran's brutal crackdown on nationwide demonstrations.
The scene set at the Women's Asian Cup in March was one of high stakes. The Iranian national anthem, played ahead of the match against South Korea on March 2, was met with silence from the team.