Iranian wine bar owners in Antwerp refuse to watch Belgium-Iran match

In Antwerp's Kloosterstraat, the Iranian owners of the wine bar Perseau are making a clear statement: they will not be tuning into the World Cup match between Belgium and Iran. Sanaz Sadegh and Saman Damghani, who openly display the flag of free Iran in their establishment, are boycotting the game.

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That team is controlled by the Islamic Iranian government. The players do not represent the voice of our people.

"That team is controlled by the Islamic Iranian government. The players do not represent the voice of our people," sommelier Sanaz Sadegh explained. She pointed to the team's silence following the January killing of 40,000 Iranians by the government. "As role models, they should speak out. If they consciously choose to ignore the situation, why should we watch their games?"

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We will not follow Belgium - Iran in our establishment. After all, it is not our team that is playing.

Sadegh emphasized that everyone who visits their bar understands their stance. "The Iranian football team is directed by the government," she stated. "My real Persian flag has been here since Khamenei's death."

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When 40,000 Iranians were slaughtered by the Iranian government earlier this year, the footballers did not react.

While they won't be showing the match, Sadegh plans to acknowledge other World Cup games. She humorously noted that during the previous World Cup, men primarily wanted to drink beer while watching. This time, she wants to organize an event for women who prefer to enjoy wine with friends at the bar rather than watch the game with their husbands.

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If they consciously choose to ignore the situation, why should we watch their games?