A death has reportedly occurred in Iran after a fan celebrated the nation’s World Cup loss. Iran lost to the United States men’s national team on Tuesday. Victory for the Americans meant they would qualify for the knockout round of the tournament.
Mehran Sammak, 27, allegedly died in his car after honking in joy after the match. German lawyer Niema Movassat tweeted a photo of Sammak along with a message claiming he was killed by regime militias.
“Mehran Sammak was only 27 years old,” Movassat said. “He was shot in the head by regime militias in Anzali, in northern Iran. Reason for his murder: he honked the horn of his car for joy for the elimination of the Iranian team in the #WM [World Cup].”
Journalist Maryam Moqaddam also confirmed the news on Twitter. Based in London, Moqaddam works for an Iranian news outlet.
Tensions in Iran have risen since the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini on September 16. The Kurdish woman died while she was in custody inside the Middle Eastern country.
The death of a fan in Iran’s loss is not the first case of protest
The nation’s protests have even reached the World Cup. Qatar deployed additional security officers to stadiums during Iranian matches. Officials had Iranian fans unfurl flags before entering stadiums around Doha.
Some fans brought large letters to collectively spell Amini’s name during the match against the Americans. Numerous fans inside the stadium applauded the gesture. Reuters reported that officials inside the stadium eventually took the signals. However, the officials allowed the fans to stay in their seats.
Previously, the Iranian players did not sing their national anthem in the opening game of the tournament. However, the starting XI sang along with the theme for the next two matches. The Iranian authorities reportedly threatened the family of any player who refused to sing the national anthem.
PHOTO: IMAGO / Ulmer/Team Photo
World Cup 2022 Guide
Here are some resources to help you make the most of the biggest event in soccer!
