An Iranian state television news anchor accused the women's football team of "betrayal" for not singing the national anthem before their Asian Cup match.
On 7 March 2026, the Iranian women's national football team became a hot topic after Mohammad Reza Shahbazi, a state TV news anchor, accused them of "betrayal" for refusing to sing the national anthem before their 0-3 loss to South Korea in the 2026 AFC Women's Asian Cup in Australia.
This incident occurred just 48 hours after Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's former Supreme Leader, was assassinated amid tense international political conditions.
However, in their next match, a 0-4 loss to Australia's women's team, the Iranian players sang the national anthem loudly and performed a military-style salute before the game began.
Following the incident, Shahbazi posted a video on the X platform, harshly criticizing those who do not sing the anthem during wartime, saying they should be treated as "traitors" and punished appropriately.
"Traitors during wartime must be dealt with more severely. Competing without singing the national anthem is the ultimate dishonor and unpatriotic act. Both the public and officials should treat these individuals as wartime traitors," he said.
"The stain of shame and betrayal must be marked on their foreheads, and they must be dealt with separately and appropriately."
Meanwhile, reports indicate that the Iranian players remain silent in their accommodation, refusing to give interviews beyond discussing the matches, and are unable to contact their families due to the Iranian government's order to cut internet access within the country.
Regarding the tournament situation, Iran's next game is against the Philippines women's national team; a loss would mean immediate elimination. Tournament organizers are discussing with Australia's Ministry of Home Affairs to assess and implement security measures for the players.