Why I can’t hate Iran’s soccer team

Let’s pretend I am going to watch soccer football Tuesday at 2. 

Unlike people in the stadium, I can uncork a cold one, while I laugh at whatever Budweiser paid for sponsorship.

Naturally, I root for Team U.S.A. — always.

But I don’t hate the opposing team, usually.

Today’s opponent is Iran, easy to hate. I shouldn’t hate a country that has a weekly “Death to America” street carnival, that subjugates women, that has a death wish for Israel, that held American diplomats hostage, and so on?

But here’s the catch.

Before an earlier game, the Iranian soccer football team did not sing the national anthem, in solidarity with protesters back home — led by women — demanding freedom.

The team was threatened, according to reports, and was warned to show fealty to the rigid Islamic regime. And these aren’t empty threats. 

So, I admire the Iranian athletes who made their statement.

I won’t hate them: or the Iranian people, most of whom are Western oriented and who want freedom.

I won’t root for them on the soccer football pitch, but I will root for them in their fight against the ayatollahs.