THE Iranian media have sought to blame Monday’s 6-2 World Cup loss to a rampant England side on the unrest that has gripped the Islamic Republic since the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in the custody of the country’s so-called morality police in September. 

Iranian newspapers accused foreign enemies of stirring up protests to throw the national team off its game.

“Iran – 2: England, Israel, Saudi and traitors – 6,” read the headline in daily Kayhan. The newspaper, whose editor-in-chief is appointed by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said Iran’s rout came after “weeks of unfair and unprecedented psychological warfare against the team ... from domestic and foreign-based traitors.” It added that a “political media current” has sought to “damage the spirit of Iran’s team by attacking them.”