Iran players hold schoolbags to honour schoolgirls killed in air strike | OneFootball

Iran players held schoolbags during the anthem before their friendly against Nigeria in Belek, Türkiye, on Friday, honouring schoolgirls killed in a 28 February air strike.

Iran lost 1-2. Wearing black armbands, the squad carried pink and purple bags with ribbons, then placed them at their feet during the anthem.

The strike, attributed to the United States, on a primary school in Minab killed at least 170 people, including pupils and teachers, according to Iranian sources. It came on the first day of an offensive by the United States and Israel against Iran, which responded by striking targets in Israel and across the region.

A team spokesperson said the players held the bags to remember 165 girls killed by Americans at an Iranian school, according to The Guardian.

Citing preliminary US military findings, the New York Times reported that a US Tomahawk cruise missile hit the school because of a targeting error. The military had been aiming at an adjacent Iranian base, which the school building had once belonged to, using outdated coordinates.

Amid the conflict, Iran’s participation in the World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada remains highly uncertain. Drawn in Group G, Iran are due to face New Zealand and Belgium in Los Angeles, and Egypt in Seattle.

Source: L'Équipe