Iran’s players have sung and saluted their national anthem ahead of their 4-0 Women’s Asian Cup defeat by Australia after anti-regime protesters called the players hostages of the current autocracy.

The players made global headlines when they did not sing or salute the anthem in the lead-up to Monday night’s 3-0 loss to South Korea.

Dissident Iranians booed during the anthem of the Islamic regime as the players sang and added military salutes at the Gold Coast on Thursday.

Australian-based protesters against the Iranian regime have said it is using the women’s football team to normalise its alleged crimes.

Ahead of Iran’s Women’s Asian Cup clash with Australia, about 50 Iranian Australians chanted ‘thank you Bibi, thank you Trump’ outside Gold Coast Stadium, in reference to Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump authorising the bombing of Iran, which has killed Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

“I think the players are hostages of the Islamic regime who are trying to normalise their crimes they have committed on Iranian people,” Azin Naghibi said.

“Give the players one second of a chance and they would get rid of that mandatory hijab first thing. If they had free speech and weren’t being controlled, I am sure most of them would join us and be aligned with the 90 million other Iranians.

“We are here to support their emotions because they are under pressure and we are their voices in the Iranian diaspora.”

After the win, Australia captain Sam Kerr spoke of her admiration for the Matildas’ opponents.

“We were aware that they were excited to play us and staying in the same hotel as us,” she said.

“It was a nice moment to share with them. They were so lovely on the pitch, and all of us swapped jerseys with them at the end.

“We obviously have a lot of respect for them and were trying to support and put an arm around them.”

Iran coach Marziyeh Jafaribaravati said the players took a lot of self-belief from competing against Australia and had a message for their supporters.

“I appreciate the fans that have supported us in Australia,” she said.

Iranian political activist Hesam Orouji said the women’s football team was being held like hostages and said the US and Israeli bombing was justified.

“Ayatollah Khamenei is our Adolf Hitler so we are happy and we think this time we can be free in Iran,” said Hesam Orouji.

“They occupied my country for 47 years and they killed thousands of Iranians.

“They spent all their national wealth just to support terrorism but now we’re almost there — a free Iran, that is going to change the world.”

Australia’s players voiced their support for Iran’s football team and noted their resilience despite “interference from their government”.

The Matildas swapped jerseys with their opponents after the hosts’ 4-0 win in the Women’s Asian Cup clash at the Gold Coast on Thursday night.

Iran coach Marziyeh Jafari continues to inspire women in her country and said many were following in her footsteps despite the uncertainty in her homeland

Jafari is one of the few Iranian women’s coaches at senior level. She said the signs were good that her own path to the top would not be a rare one.

“In Iran, all the coaches who lead the women teams in our league and national teams are all female,” she said.

“I think it is very good that we let female coaches promote themselves.

“For sure, they need the experience of high-level coaches beside them.”

Matildas playmaker Amy Sayer said the jersey swap was the least Australia’s players could do to show their support.

“I know that they’re having a tough time as well and at least it’s a nice memento for them to go back home to, if they’re able to,” she said.

“I know they’re really struggling with the sort of interference from their government and everything but I hope they enjoyed the game.”

The Matildas must beat South Korea on Sunday in Sydney to finish top of their Asian Cup group.

-AAP