'They should stay home' – Queiroz to Iran fans

Carlos Queiroz was furious with Iran supporters after the 6-2 thrashing his team received from

. The Portuguese manager told that those who

"aren't ready to support the team" should "stay home".

The circumstances around the match were highly volatile as Iran has been steeped in civil protests for two months now. They first started after the 22-year-old woman Mahsa Amini was brought in police custody for violating the hijab rules and subsequently died in custody; a death that many believe was caused by severe head trauma after she was beaten by the police.

Ever since September, Human rights groups claim that over 400 people have lost their lives in the protests, many of which were children. Iranian fans’ anger comes from the fact that almost none of the

players spoke against the crackdown of the government on the protesters. They have even called the refusal to sing the national anthem an empty gesture and have mocked the players who have taken the government’s side in the protests which has led to Queiroz’s comments.

"Please, the teachers, the moralists, let the kids play the game. These kids only want to play the game,

" Queiroz said.

"I hope the players of England and Wales and United States praise them for having the courage to play the game. They are here to bring pride and happiness to the people.

"You don't know what the kids have been experiencing behind the scenes just because they want to play football. Whatever they [the players] say, they [critics] want to kill them.

"Of course, we have our opinions and we will express them in the right time. But I love the game and don't want the players to do something that isn't loyal to the game that is about the entertainment, joy and pride.

"Everyone knows the present circumstances of the environment of my players is not the best environment. They are human beings, they are kids.

"They only have one dream, to play for the country, to play for the people and I am very proud of the way they stand up and keep fighting.

"I am very proud of what they did but of course in 2014 and 2018 we had full support of the fans. You saw what happened today, the fans who aren't ready to support the team should stay home."

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