Iranians celebrate the defeat of the country's national team amid a wave of protests; watch the videos

In the first video, a series of images acquired by the Associated Press showed cars on the streets of Saqqez, in Kurdistan province, and some people shouting 'death to the dictator' in reference to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's supreme leader.

In Mahabad, people could be seen dancing in the streets. Western Iran has a Kurdish majority, and has experienced intense anti-government protests and violent repression in recent months.

The Iranian team's failure at the World Cup is seen by some as a victory against what they see as government oppression, says The Guardian.

In the other video, which circulates in several versions on the internet, it is possible to hear the celebrations from the apartments in the capital Tehran, at the moment when the Iranian team lost to the USA.

Why did the Iranians support the team, in a country that loves football?

Iran is experiencing a series of protests against the country's morality police's repression of women, which began with the death of young Masha Amini, aged 22, after being arrested for wearing the veil incorrectly.

Death of Mahsa Amini: wave of revolt against “moral police” grows online and reaches the UN

A wave of protests broke out in Iran and around the world after the death of Masha Amini, aged 22. The young woman was hospitalized in a coma and died on Friday (16) after being arrested by the Iranian “moral police” for incorrectly using the hijab – the veil that covers the hair.

And the fact of demonstrations are repressed with violence and the government's attempt to create a smokescreen around the championship to reduce protests brought the population the feeling that there is no climate for football in the country.

Recently, the Iranian government decided that protesters should be sentenced to the death penalty. The first punishment took place on November 14th, but the executed citizen's identity was not revealed. The government condemns protesters for “disturbing the order and peace of the community and committing a crime against national security.” (GE)

Iranian players' dilemma in relation to women's protests

The Iranian team's players at the World Cup have been the target of criticism from all sides for representing on the field a country that is experiencing an unprecedented wave of protests. They have repeated since the beginning of the World Cup that they are in Qatar to “fight for the people and bring joy”, at a time when the Islamic Republic is going through a social upheaval. But they experience existential anguish: support – and how? – or not the protests taking place in your country?

The Iranians' dissatisfaction has yet another root: the so-called Revolution of 1979, when the Islamic regime established itself in power in Iran, the country's team moved away from international competitions during the 1980s, returning in the late 1990s, when it returned to stand out in the Asian championship and achieve qualifications for the World Cup editions. (Ninja Media)

See also:

Female courage: Iranian students defy repression and maintain protests

Young Iranian students continue to defy Islamic repression with sporadic demonstrations, in which they remove their veils to protest the death of Mahsa Amini. Protests have been going on for almost three weeks in Iran. Amini, a 22-year-old Iranian woman of Kurdish origin, died on September 16, three days after she was arrested by the moral police for allegedly violating the women's dress code, which includes the wearing a veil over the head.