latest agreement<\/a> between Washington and Tehran to end the war between the US and Iran.<\/p>\n“The people of Iran deserve regime change. People were slaughtered on the streets of Tehran.”<\/p>\n
“We can’t normalise what happened in January through a sporting event,” says Farimah, who is wearing a T-shirt bearing the Lion and Sun emblem.<\/p>\n
“This team doesn’t represent the people of Iran.”<\/p>\n
Nearby, Kourosh stands with a makeshift noose around his neck.<\/p>\n
“It’s a symbol to stop the execution of brave and innocent people in Iran,” he says.<\/p>\n
Like many here, he says the players on the pitch represent the regime, not the people.<\/p>\n
The players reject that characterisation.<\/p>\n
Before the match, striker Mehdi Taremi said the team plays for all Iranians, at home and abroad, and does not get involved in politics.<\/p>\n
Some supporters heading into the stadium agreed.<\/p>\n
Despite the tensions between his adopted and native countries, Iranian-American Mostafa believes football should unite people.<\/p>\n
“Soccer is about friendship, cultural connections and putting politics aside,” he adds on his way into the stadium.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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