Iran captain Alireza Jahanbakhsh has hinted at a campaign to destabilise his side ahead of their World Cup opener against England.
Jahanbakhsh hinted at attempts to undermine the Iran squad’s mentality after he was asked how the anti-Government protests back home had affected the players in the build-up to Qatar.
Former Brighton striker Jahanbakhsh, now with Feyenoord, refused to give his personal opinion on the current turmoil in his homeland, nor whether he would celebrate if he scored against England.
Players in the Iranian league have refused to celebrate goals, bringing their hands down when they score, to convey a message of solidarity with the protests, sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini, a young Kurdish woman who died after being arrested for refusing to wear a hijab.
Jahanbakhsh also refused to confirm whether Iran’s players will sing their national anthem prior to the Group B clash with England, after several refused to do so before a recent friendly against Tunisia.
But the 30-year-old, whose overhead kick against Chelsea on New Year’s Day in 2020 was voted Premier League goal of the month, suggested questions about the protests were designed to unsettle Iran.
“First of all, to be honest, I’m not surprised you’re asking this question,” said Jahanbakhsh. "I think everyone is expecting this sort of question and I assume you’re from the English media?
“Like everyone, we’re here for our duty and our duty is to play football. To be honest, I’m not sure that if England wasn’t in our group, you would have come with this question.
“Secondly, we have been facing this already for a couple of weeks with all the English media - this was all the headlines as we get closer to the World Cup, whatever the reason is.
“To bring it this way - okay, play a mental game, ask a question about what’s going on here or there or whatever - but we have just four days to go to play one of the biggest games of our lives. What I’m trying to say is that we are out here to play football and that is the main thing everybody is focused on.
“To be honest, if you asked this question outside my duty to the national team, I would have answered the question with a different view. But since I was a kid, I was always dreaming of playing for the national team. Team Melli [Iran national team’s nickname] and I’m sure it’s the same for everyone in the squad.
“We’ve been through a lot of difficulties and listen, throughout the years, there’s been a lot of ups and downs in every way, but when football comes together I think we can make joy and we can make happiness for people.”
Asked whether he would celebrate if he scored against England, Jahanbakhsh said: “Celebrations are something very personal, every single player has different celebrations.
“You ask about the national anthem? That is also something that has to be decided in the team, which we have already talked about and obviously everyone has talked about it.
“But we have never made a big deal out of it, because everybody is only thinking and talking about football. That’s the answer from me and every single player who is representing Team Melli.”
