![Pinterest](https://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://uknews.evprotec.com/iran-captain-claims-campaign-to-destabilise-world-cup-bid-ahead-of-england-clash/&media=https://uknews.evprotec.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/0_GettyImages-1441979094.jpg&description=England take on Iran in their first game at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar on Monday and former Brighton ace Alireza Jahanbakhsh has suggested that questions about protests in Iran are aimed to destabilise themIran train ahead of World Cup opener against England Iran captain Alireza Jahanbakhsh has hinted at a campaign to destabilise his side ahead of their World Cup opener against England. Jahanbakhsh hinted at attempts to undermine the Iran squad's mentality after he was asked how the anti-Government protests back home had affected the players in the build-up to Qatar. Former Brighton striker Jahanbakhsh, now with Feyenoord, refused to give his personal opinion on the current turmoil in his homeland, nor whether he would celebrate if he scored against England. Players in the Iranian league have refused to celebrate goals, bringing their hands down when they score, to convey a message of solidarity with the protests, sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini, a young Kurdish woman who died after being arrested for refusing to wear a hijab. World Cup Group B preview: England, Iran, United States, Wales Jahanbakhsh also refused to confirm whether Iran's players will sing their national anthem prior to the Group B clash with England, after several refused to do so before a recent friendly against Tunisia. But the 30-year-old, whose overhead kick against Chelsea on New Year's Day in 2020 was voted Premier League goal of the month, suggested questions about the protests were designed to unsettle Iran. 'First of all, to be honest, I'm not surprised you're asking this question,' said Jahanbakhsh. "I think everyone is expecting this sort of question and I assume you're from the English media? Alireza Jahanbakhsh thinks questions about the protests in Iran are only aimed to disrupt his team ( Dan Mullan - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images) 'Like everyone, we're here for our duty and our duty is to play football. To be honest, I'm not sure that if England wasn't in our group, you would have){kind=link}
England take on Iran in their first game at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar on Monday and former Brighton ace Alireza Jahanbakhsh has suggested that questions about protests in Iran are aimed to destabilise them
Iran captain Alireza Jahanbakhsh has hinted at a campaign to destabilise his side ahead of their World Cup opener against England.
Jahanbakhsh hinted at attempts to undermine the Iran squad’s mentality after he was asked how the anti-Government protests back home had affected the players in the build-up to Qatar.
Former Brighton striker Jahanbakhsh, now with Feyenoord, refused to give his personal opinion on the current turmoil in his homeland, nor whether he would celebrate if he scored against England.
Players in the Iranian league have refused to celebrate goals, bringing their hands down when they score, to convey a message of solidarity with the protests, sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini, a young Kurdish woman who died after being arrested for refusing to wear a hijab.