World Cup Daily: Iran's brave protest, Rainbow armbands banned, Grealish keeps promise with goal, French team leaked?

After a quieter opening day, there’s plenty to get through from an eventful Day 2 of the FIFA World Cup as USA and Wales could not be separated, England put Iran to the sword, and some vital mistakes from Edouard Mendy cost his side as Netherlands claimed the three points.

Here’s what’s making news in Qatar with four games down.

Iran’s anthem silence creates noise worldwide

They lost 6-2 but for Iranian players and fans, their World Cup opener against England in Qatar was about more than football. They used this global stage to make their feelings clear about the growing human rights protests against the ruling regime in their homeland.

The national anthem was shouted down by the supporters and none of the Iran players joined in.

Iran were heavily supported inside the Khalifa International Stadium and clearly regarded this as an ideal platform to make their grievances clear. The football itself gave them few moments to cheer but they were clearly determined to make this day count.

Because the Iranian players did not sing their anthem, the TV feed in Iran was cut where authorities interpreted it as being support of the anti-government protests engulfing the country.

In the stands some Iranian fans made thumbs-down gestures as the anthem was played, others wore shirts with the protesters’ slogan “Women, Life, Freedom”.

“The fans who aren’t ready to support the team should stay home,” said coach Carlos Queiroz. “Please, the teachers, the moralists, let the kids play the game. These kids only want to play the game.”

There have been widespread protests in Iran demanding the fall of the ruling Shi’ite Muslim theocracy since the death two months ago of young woman Mahsa Amini following her arrest for breaking the strict Islamic dress code.

“All of us are sad because our people are being killed in Iran but all of us are proud of our team because they did not sing the national anthem – because it’s not our national (anthem), it’s only for the regime,” said an Iranian fan to news agency Reuters, attending the World Cup who asked not to be named.

Rainbow protest causes drama

In more concerning off-field news, American reporter Grant Wahl was barred from entering the stadium for the US vs Wales game because he was wearing a pro-LGBTQI shirt.

Wahl, a credentialed journalist, later said that he was “detained” by security.

“Am in the media centre, still wearing my (rainbow) shirt. Was detained for nearly half an hour. Go gays,” he tweeted.

Female members of the Rainbow Wall, Wales’ LGBTQ+ supporters group, claimed rainbow hats were confiscated from them but their male counterparts were allowed to keep theirs.

Reporter Beth Fisher tweeted that she was able to get hold of one of the rainbow hats.

There were also reports of fans on their way to the game carrying small rainbow flags being intimidated on a metro train.

The news came after FIFA had officially outlawed pro-LGBQTI armbands being worn by captains instead of the standard issue FIFA armbands.

FIFA threatens ‘sporting’ punishments for inclusive armbands

FIFA have banned World Cup captains from wearing armbands with “OneLove” messaging, in favour of their “No Discrimination” branding.

Captains from seven teams, including England and Wales, had planned to wear the armbands to show support for LGBTQI rights.

But Harry Kane ultimately wore the standard issue captain’s armband as he led his side out for their dominant win over Iran.

“We’ve made it clear as a team and staff that we want to wear the (OneLove) armband,” Kane had previously stated.

Earlier in the week there had been talk of fines from the world governing body if the players went through with their plan for promoting inclusion for all sexualities, but once chatter turned to on-field punishments – for example, yellow cards – that was enough for the seven nations to back down.

“We were prepared to pay fines that would normally apply to breaches of kit regulations and had a strong commitment to wearing the armband,” read a joint statement from the football associations.

“However, we cannot put our players in the situation where they might be booked or even forced to leave the field of play. If the sporting sanction threat is real then we need to look at that, we need to step back and work out if there’s another way we can show our values.

“We are very disappointed by the FIFA decision, which we feel is unprecedented.”

Journalist Jack Pitt-Brooke took aim at both the World Cup organisers and the teams who backed down.

“One of the things that is so dispiriting about all this is that the One Love armband felt like it was designed specifically so that it would be permitted. The blandness and non-specificity of it was the whole point. And they’ve still ultimately decided against wearing it,” Pitt-Brooke wrote in The Athletic.

BBC pundit Alex Scott showed solidarity with the cause, wearing a OneLove armband on-air at the Khalifa International Stadium, beamed to millions of fans in the UK.

A full boycott of the tournament was never feasible, but it’s clear that the Qatar regime and FIFA find even this small form of protest unacceptable and have moved quickly to quash it.

As well as FIFA’s decision, the backdown caused waves with many questioning the fortitude of the teams involved and whether it was the right move to cave in to the threats.

Perhaps FIFA were bluffing, but it seems unlikely that anyone will go and try to find out at this point.

England did, however, carry out their plan to take a knee in support of the Black Lives Matter movement without contention.

Grealish keeps promise to young fan with goal celebration

English star Jack Grealish has made good on a promise to a young fan with a special goal celebration in the win over Iran.

The Manchester City ace had received a letter from a young fan called Finlay, who has cerebral palsy, a condition which Grealish’s sister also has.

Grealish not only replied to Finlay but made a surprise appearance at a coaching clinic to the youngster’s delight.

Finlay asked him to do the worm as a celebration but Grealish said that dance move could lead to him being injured so they worked out a compromise in choreography but he maintained “I’ll do it for you, I promise, next time I score.”

When he came on as a sub against Iran, he unleashed his moves and posted it on social media, with Finlay’s mum responding with his delighted reaction.

Socceroos’ French foes leaked?

France have not paid too much attention to the Socceroos in the lead-up to their Group D clash on Wednesday morning but Australia should be rather wary of this line-up.

French journalist Julien Laurens has posted this likely XI for the World Cup champions after their final session before taking on the Socceroos.

Lloris – Pavard, Konaté, Upamecano, Lucas H – Tchouameni, Rabiot – Dembele, Griezmann, Mbappé – Giroud

Even without Karim Benzema, that’s a side loaded with talent. Good luck, Socceroos.

Becks has irreparably damaged legacy, claims Foster

Outspoken Socceroos legend Craig Foster has ripped into David Beckham and FIFA boss Gianni Infantino for not upholding the governing body’s human rights code by turning a blind eye to Qatar’s apalling record.

With an estimated 6500 foreign construction workers reportedly dying during the construction of the World Cup venues, Qatar’s treatment of women and homosexuals also under the spotlight, Foster said FIFA should be doing more to put pressure on the host nation to change its ways.

Beckham was considered a gay icon for his progressive attitudes but has been slammed for accepting a lucrative ambassador’s role at the World Cup at a country which considers homosexual acts illegal.

Foster said on Channel 10’s The Project that Beckham had irreparably damaged his reputation with the LGBTIQ community.

“He has such an incredibly powerful brand that he is in a position where he can make positive change,” the commentator and human rights advocate said. “It would be wonderful if he admits his error and turns around and starts speaking up on their behalf.

“He was seen as a gay icon and that became part of his brand and now, rightly, the LGBTIQ community around the world are feeling as though perhaps that was just part of his branding and it wasn’t authentic.”

Foster describer Infantino’s World Cup opening address as bizarre and horrendous.

“To conflate his experience in a private school in Switzerland to the oppression and criminalisation of the LGBTIQ community and the thousands of deaths of migrant workers is just absolutely disgraceful,” Foster said.

“The worst thing in the end is that he keeps talking about morality. He has a human rights policy that he has to uphold. The most disappointing thing here is that while FIFA have their own human rights policy, the president of FIFA clearly doesn’t understand it. 

“And to the small extent that he does he is not willing to uphold it and certainly doesn’t want to be accountable to it and that’s deeply disappointing.”

Saka brace leads England to statement win

Iran initially held strong in today’s first game but once the dam broke, the goals just kept going in for Gareth Southgate’s side in a 6-2 victory. The result makes Southgate the winningest England manager at major tournaments.

Bukayo Saka finished with a brace, and there was a first career England goal for midfielder, Jude Bellingham. The Borussia Dortmund man was impressive, partnering with Declan Rice in the engine room as they controlled the game for the Three Lions. It was a polished performance all around as the final scoreline probably flattered Iran a smidge.

England made a statement to the rest of the competition that they’ve got plenty of attacking firepower, with two goals coming from the bench. With 20 minutes to go, Southgate had the luxury of bringing on Phil Foden, Jack Grealish and Marcus Rashford, the latter two getting their names on the scoresheet.

They’re four years removed from a semi-final in Russia, and the foundation of that squad is still intact.

The biggest headache for Southgate was the forced substitution of captain Harry Maguire, who came off towards the end with a suspected concussion.

Mendy mistakes, Mane absence cost Senegal

This Group A fixture was an arm-wrestle in the first half as both sides eased into the tournament.

Senegal are without the services of Sadio Mane. The Bayern Munich forward is out of the World Cup and his presence up front will be sorely missed.

The Netherlands are also missing a key attacker in Memphis Depay, who was on the bench but unable to start. The Barcelona man did get one for the last half an hour but struggled to impose himself on proceedings until he was involved in his side’s second goal.

Unfortunately for Senegal it was gloveman Edouard Mendy who faltered on the world stage. Attempting to punch clear a Frenkie De Jong cross into the area, the Chelsea goalkeeper got his timing all wrong, allowing Cody Gapko to get his head on the ball and direct it in for the opening goal.

Deep into stoppage time, Netherlands would receive another gift from Mendy as the Senegalese could only parry Depay’s tame effort at goal, allowing Davy Klaassen a tap-in to seal the three points for Holland and send them joint-top of Group A.

Late Bale penalty salvages a point for Wales

After England’s big win earlier on Tuesday, Group B was thrown wide open. Considering the Three Lions’ goal difference, and obviously as only two teams will qualify, it seemed that there was plenty already on the line at the Al Rayyan Stadium.

Timothy Weah, son of legendary striker George Weah, gave the United States the lead in the 36th minute, capping off a lightning-quick move that started out of not much on halfway.

Both sides struggled to create much as USA seemed content with their solitary goal advantage. Wales were getting the better of the second half and looked the likelier side to score.

Wales received a lifeline in the 80th minute when Walker Zimmerman went through the back of Gareth Bale, prompting the referee to award a penalty.

Wales’ captain stepped up to the spot, emphatically dispatching his spot-kick past Matt Turner to level the scores with just eight minutes to play.

It finished all square with a 1-1 draw more or less a fair reflection on the contest, though the United States could feel they deserved more after controlling much of the opening half.