Iran World Cup fan holding Mahsa Amini shirt is confronted by security

DOHA, QATAR - NOVEMBER 25: Security staff speak with fans holding up a shirt with the name of Mahsa Amini and a flag advocating for women's rights during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group B match between Wales and IR Iran at Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium on November 25, 2022 in Doha, Qatar. People have continued demonstrating in Iran over the death of Mahsa Amini in September. Mahsa Amini fell into a coma and died after being arrested in Tehran by morality police, for allegedly violating the country's hijab rules. (Photo by Matthias Hangst/Getty Images)
A security official speaks with the fan who held a shirt with Mahsa Amini's name and her companion who was holding a flag advocating for women's rights. (Matthias Hangst/Getty Images)

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.

DOHA, QATAR - NOVEMBER 25:  A Fan of Iran protest for Womens freedom and pay tribute to Mahsa AMINI prior to the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group B match between Wales and IR Iran at Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium on November 25, 2022 in Doha, Qatar. (Photo by Juan Luis Diaz/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images)
The shirt with 22-year-old Amini's name held up by the Iran fan before the Wales game. (Getty Images)

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.

DOHA, QATAR - NOVEMBER 25: Fans of Iran protest with flags, banners with slogan Woman Life Freedom after death of Mahsa Amini for women's rights in Iran prior to the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group B match between Wales and IR Iran at Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium on November 25, 2022 in Doha, Qatar. (Photo by Harry Langer/DeFodi Images via Getty Images)
The protest flag and Mahsa Amini shirt. (Getty Images)
A member of security, right, interacts with an Iran supporter who displayed a shirt that read 'Mahsa Amini 22' in memory of an Iranian woman who died while in police custody in Iran, prior to the start of the World Cup group B soccer match between Wales and Iran, at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium in Al Rayyan, Qatar, Friday, Nov. 25, 2022. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
The security official speaks with the Iran supporter who displayed a shirt that read 'Mahsa Amini 22'. (AP)
Members of security (R) speak with two Iran supporters, one holding a flag reading
Security members with the fans before the Wales game. (AFP via Getty Images)

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.”