Iranian soccer players seeking asylum in Australia say anthem silence was an anti-regime protest

Two Iranian soccer players who sought asylum in Australia say their team’s silence during the national anthem was not unexplained mourning, but a protest against Iran’s regime.

The team did not provide an explanation for the silence. Some people interpreted it as an expression of mourning amid the war.

The two players who remained in Australia offered a different reading. They said the gesture showed solidarity with demonstrators who were killed during Iran’s crackdown.