Iranians had few options to watch their World Cup opener against Morocco, bar a few cinemas and cafes, but after their shock victory on Friday, they burst out into the streets of Tehran in rare and wild celebration.
The mood had been dampened earlier in the day, when the authorities announced that planned open-air screenings in parks and Tehran’s largest stadium had been banned without explanation.
Many had been excited about watching the match at Azadi Stadium, because it would have been the first time since the Islamic revolution that men and women could attend a sports event there together.
Photo: EPA
Instead, with no bars and mixed signals from police about whether cafes could screen the games, many of the city’s soccer-mad population turned to cinemas to vent their passion.
Supporters thronged the steps of one multiplex in central Tehran ahead of the match, chanting and deafening passers-by with vuvuzela blasts. There was a notably even split between men and women.
“We hoped to go to the stadium, but we are very happy to come here with my family. I’m not that optimistic [that we can win], but I’m just happy to be in the World Cup — that’s enough,” said 32-year-old supporter Rahelleh.
However, she was wrong. An own goal by Morocco’s Aziz Bouhaddouz in the 95th minute handed Iran their first World Cup victory in 20 years. Within minutes, Tehranis had poured out on to the streets as if they had won the entire tournament.
Police appeared happy to let it continue, despite such public displays of jollity normally prohibited.
The victory was all the sweeter given the rough journey the players have faced, with Portuguese coach Carlos Quieroz complaining about limited resources and poor facilities for the squad.
The players were also the latest victim of US sanctions, with Nike refusing to provide the team with cleats, saying it would breach the US trade embargo on Iran.
That quickly gave rise to a popular meme on social media after the victory with the Nike logo and an altered slogan reading: “We just did it. Without you.”
During the game in St Petersburg, Iranian fans unfurled a banner reading “#NoBan4Women” and “Support Iranian Women to Attend Stadiums” to protest their nation’s ban on women attending matches back home.
After it was initially unfurled during the first half, there was a brief commotion as it was put away. The reason for the commotion was not immediately clear, as three stewards moved across to where the banner was on the bottom row near to one of the goals.
It was then unfurled for the remainder of the first half and moved up the field near the other goal for the second half.
Additional reporting by AP
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Revelations of positive doping tests for nearly two dozen Chinese swimmers that went unpunished sparked an intense flurry of accusations and legal threats between the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and the head of the US drug-fighting organization, who has long been one of WADA’s fiercest critics. WADA on Saturday said it was turning to legal counsel to address a statement released by US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) CEO Travis Tygart, who said WADA and anti-doping authorities in China swept positive tests “under the carpet by failing to fairly and evenly follow the global rules that apply to everyone else in the world.” The
Taiwanese judoka Yang Yung-wei on Saturday won silver in the men’s under-60kg category at the Asian Judo Championships in Hong Kong. Nicknamed the “judo heartthrob” in Taiwan, the Olympic silver-medalist missed out on his first Asian Championships gold when he lost to Japanese judoka Taiki Nakamura in the finals. Yang defeated three opponents on Saturday to reach the final after receiving a bye through the round of 32. He first topped Laotian Soukphaxay Sithisane in the round of 16 with two seoi nage (over-the-shoulder throws), then ousted Indian Vijay Kumar Yadav in the quarter-finals with his signature ude hishigi sankaku gatame (triangular armlock). He
Rafael Nadal on Wednesday said the upcoming French Open would be the moment to “give everything and die” on the court after his comeback from injury in Barcelona was curtailed by Alex de Minaur. The 22-time Grand Slam title winner, back playing this week after three months on the sidelines, battled well, but eventually crumbled 7-5, 6-1 against the world No. 11 from Australia in the second round. Nadal, 37, who missed virtually all of last season, is hoping to compete at the French Open next month where he is the record 14-time champion. The Spaniard said the clash with De Minaur was