The team were branded ‘wartime traitors’ by Iranian state media after choosing to stay silent during their country’s national anthem. Maira Butt looks at how the players became a symbol of defiance against a brutal dictatorship

The Iran women's national football team have become "heroes" and deserve to be free to live their lives, says former Iran men's head coach Afshin Ghotbi.

The team were branded ‘wartime traitors’ by Iranian state media after choosing to stay silent during their country’s national anthem. Maira Butt looks at how the players became a…

Iranian state media claims the players resisted ‘psychological warfare’ – but reports suggest the team has faced immense pressure from their country’s authorities

Diaspora fears Iran placed intense and systematic pressure on the players’ families in Iran