World Cup Fans Supporting Iran Protest Have Items Seized: Report

World Cup security reportedly seized items from attendees supporting the massive protests in Iran as the Middle Eastern country's national team played its second match of the tournament on Friday.

The items taken by security at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium in Qatar included flags and T-shirts, the Associated Press reported. Pro-Iranian government fans also reportedly harassed those showcasing their support for the demonstrations against Iran's regime by hurling insults at them, ripping flags from their hands, filming them on their phones and disrupting interviews several women were giving to foreign media outside the stadium.

Iran's participation in the World Cup has been under scrutiny in the backdrop of the protests back home, which erupted in September after the death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Kurdish woman who was arrested by the country's "morality police" for allegedly wearing an "improper" form of hijab in Tehran. Iranian authorities denied accusations that the severe beatings she allegedly suffered while in custody caused her death.

Iran's regime has forcefully cracked down on the protests and thousands have been detained for their participation, according to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. The U.N. office said that more than 300 people have been killed since the protests began in September.

Though the World Cup is being played in Qatar, the demonstrations and turmoil at home appear to have followed the Iranian national team and its fans to the tournament. In one photo posted to Twitter on Friday by the Bleacher Report Football account, a fan at the match is seen holding a shirt with Amini's name emblazoned on it over the number "22," an apparent reference to the age at which she died.

Before playing their first match on Monday, the Iranian team remained silent during their national anthem in what some interpreted to be a sign of solidarity with the protests.

Legal and human rights experts told Newsweek that the Iranian athletes and their families could face severe consequences including arrest and detention for seemingly drawing attention to and standing against the situation in Iran.

Prior to their second match on Friday, the Iran team did sing along to their national anthem in a departure from their World Cup kickoff earlier in the week, according to the AP.

After a 6-2 defeat by England in its opener on Monday, Iran won its second World Cup match 2-0 against Wales on Friday. Iran is next scheduled to play against the U.S. on Tuesday.

Newsweek reached out to Qatar 2022 organizers for comment.