At the World Cup, Iran’s a winner

It’s just a game, right?

Avid sports fan or just a typical two-match viewer like yours truly, anyone following FIFA and this year’s World Cup headlines can tell you: When sporting reaches international scale, diplomacy gets an assist.

Starting with the first Olympics, sports diplomacy — a modern term for an old practice — has been a unique way to bring people and nations together over a shared love of athletic games. A reminder that despite different locations, cultures, and everything else on the surface, deep down one soccer fan is much like another.

From players and fans to hot dog vendors and presidents, we all share the same basic needs in this game of life. When negotiating them strains relations between nations, shifting the focus to field, court, or pitch has helped pave the way for parallel sportsmanship on the diplomatic level.

And sometimes as this year, for revolutionary support and heightened awareness of a people desperately fighting for liberty. Soccer as world stage for a brave protest.

Today, Iran plays the U.S. in its third FIFA match. I’m cheering for both, because in a way, Iran has already won, even if they lose. If you saw Team Iran’s opening match against England you may have noticed something unusual. When their national anthem was played, they didn’t sing. That’s huge, especially if you’re from a country insistent about political loyalties to the point of imprisoning and sometimes, killing those who don’t go along.

Fans are taking a stand, too. Sports news cameras have caught Iran’s fans boldly wearing the “wrong” national flag — another silent scream aimed at their own government. (The official flag has a sword with four curves around it, doubling as a religious symbol; in its place is the 1970s version with a lion, or words, or just blank.)

I’ve been waiting for this moment since 1979, when religion and government made their unholy marriage in that country of 85 million, resulting, as ever such marriages do, in suppression of what should be the most basic, inalienable rights.

Interestingly the first time Iran competed in the World Cup was in 1978, as its generating revolution against the Shah carrying its empty promises of equality was brewing.

Why did Team Melli, as fans call Iran’s soccer team, take such a public and risky stand? Why are fans supporting them with the flag snub, shared in American social media and leading to Iran’s government making a fuss?

Two months ago, a lovely young woman named Mahsa Amini was arrested in Tehran by the Guidance patrol, a kind of religious morality police, for not wearing her hijab (modest coverings) properly. During her three days in custody she was badly beaten, fell into a coma, and died. This tragedy sparked worldwide headlines and a massive wave of street protests mostly by Iran’s women at first, but then joined especially by younger generations of men — all risking their liberty and lives in support of women’s rights.

Iran’s populace has had enough. Their rallying cry: “Women, life, freedom!”

Thousands of protesters have been arrested and dozens killed so far. Team Melli risked not only themselves, but their families by their silent, clear support for the protesters and Persian women on a world stage, while they hold the world’s attention.

It’s inspiring to watch such bravery.

Repression on the scale Iranians, especially Iranian women, have endured should never be whitewashed.

No, it’s not just a game. These matches just may be part of a pivotal moment in the lives of millions, as the world watches and, hopefully, responds with a show of support for liberty.

So go USA, but no matter what happens in today’s match, Team Melli are already champions.

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Sholeh Patrick is a columnist with the Hagadone News Network in awe of people across the world silently and loudly struggling for what Americans are so privileged to take for granted each day. Email sholeh@cdapress.com.