Gareth Southgate has said his position as England manager means he must “think about the consequences” of his comments about political matters after being asked about the situation in Iran.
Protests broke out in Iran following the death of Mahsa Amini in September after she was arrested for wearing a headscarf incorrectly.
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England face Iran in their Group B opener at the World Cup in Qatar on Nov. 21 and the fixture continues to be overshadowed by the demonstrations amid calls for the nation to be expelled from the tournament.
Some Iran players have offered their support for the protesters in recent weeks with posts on their social media accounts, but there has been little visible reference to the protests for greater rights for women in Iran from non-Iranian players.
Southgate and his England players have made clear their support for LGBTQ+ campaigners in Qatar by confirming captain Harry Kane will wear a rainbow-flag armband during the tournament.
But in an interview with the Iranian football podcast Gol Bezan, when asked about the situation in Iran, Southgate said it was difficult to speak out on political matters as England manager without full knowledge of the issues.
