The Iran women’s team refused to sing the country’s national anthem ahead of their opening match of the Asian Cup.
South Korea beat Iran 3-0 in their group stage match on Monday night.
As the team lined up ahead of kick-off for customary pre-game anthems, cameras panned across the Iran team with each player starting straight ahead in silence at the Gold Coast Stadium.
Some of the players appeared to be holding back tears during the somber moment.
Iran head coach Marziyeh Jafari was seen smiling from the touchline having earlier refused to answer questions on the military strikes and the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
A small section of Iran supporters inside the stadium held aloft Pahalvi-era Iranian flags.
On Saturday, a joint US and Israel attack struck Tehran with Iran retaliating with a wave of attacks across the Gulf region, including the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.
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Iran will continue their Asian Cup campaign this week despite the chaos in the Middle East and in are in action again against competition hosts Australia on Thursday.
‘Obviously it’s really tough what’s going on around the world,’ Matildas captain Sam Kerr said this week.
‘But you know, they’re just young girls and young footballers.
‘We’ll treat the game like any other game, show the team the utmost respect and prepare properly.’
The conflict in the Middle East has raised huge doubts over the Iranian men’s national team and their participation in this summer’s World Cup, taking place in North America.
Iran are scheduled to play three games against New Zealand, Belgium and Egypt in Group G, all on American soil – two in Los Angeles and the other in Seattle.
While there has been no official word on their participation, Iranian Football Federation president Mehdi Taj has suggested they may have little choice but to withdraw.
‘With what happened today and with that attack by the United States, it is unlikely that we can look forward to the World Cup, but the sports chiefs are the ones who must decide on that.’
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