Iran World Cup fan holding Mahsa Amini shirt is confronted by security
An Iran World Cup fan has been confronted by security after she held up a shirt bearing the name of Mahsa Amini.
A security official at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium in Doha was pictured apparently remonstrating with the fan, who had painted blood flowing from her eyes.
Amini, who was 22, died in police custody in September. She had been accused of not following Iran’s hijab rules.
Her death sparked mass anti-government protests, with Iran’s authoritarian regime enforcing a deadly crackdown. The UN has estimated more than 300 people have been killed.
Qatar, the controversial host nation of the World Cup, has been under scrutiny over its own human rights abuses.
Political demonstrations, and organisers' handling of them, have already become a pervading theme of the tournament only five days after it began - and the fan apparently had the shirt taken off her ahead of Iran's game against Wales on Friday.
The security guard was also pictured speaking to her male companion who was holding a flag advocating for women's rights.
Amid the unrest in Iran, the team's participation in the tournament has been a huge political talking point.
Ahead of its first match against England on Monday, Iran's players refused to sing the national anthem: interpreted as a show of support for the mass anti-government protests in their country.
Since then, there have been reports the players could later face reprisals if they again refused to sing the anthem in their remaining games.
Star player Mehdi Taremi had said on Thursday “we are not under any pressure” - but the team sang the anthem before Friday’s game against Wales began.
After the forlorn-looking players sang the anthem, BBC commentator Steve Wilson remarked: “Singing or not singing that anthem has become a political statement and the pressure that this team is under is immense - and the emotions for those following them, immense too.”