Iranian soccer players hold schoolbags in solidarity with slain girls

Ahead of their clash with Nigeria’s Super Eagles this Friday, Iran’s men’s national soccer team wore black armbands and held schoolbags as their anthem played ahead of ​a match in Turkey on Friday in what a team ‌official said was a protest over the killing of schoolgirls on the first day of the Iran war.

Iran were playing a friendly against Nigeria in the resort town ​of Belek ahead of the World Cup in the U.S., ​Mexico and Canada, where their participation is in doubt over the ⁠conflict.

The men lined up holding pink and purple bags with ​ribbons on them – a reference to the attack on the Shajareh Tayyebeh ​School, which Tehran says killed more than 175 people, including children and teachers, on the first day of joint U.S.-Israeli strikes.

“The players are holding the school ​bags close to their hearts in remembrance of the 165 girls ​the Americans killed in an Iranian school,” a media official for the Iranian team ‌told ⁠Reuters.

U.S. military investigators believe it is likely that U.S. forces were responsible but have not yet reached a final conclusion or completed their investigation.

Earlier this month, some of Iran’s women’s soccer team stayed quiet during the ​national anthem at ​an Asian Cup ⁠match, leading state TV in Tehran to brand them “traitors”.

U.S. President Donald Trump said earlier this month that ​while Iran’s national team were welcome to play ​in the ⁠U.S., it might not be appropriate for their “life and safety.”

Iran’s football federation said it is in discussions with soccer’s world governing body FIFA about ⁠moving ​its World Cup matches to Mexico from ​the U.S.

The squad will also play Costa Rica on Tuesday in another friendly in ​Turkey.

-Reuters

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