Soccer fans in Iran's Kurdish region set off fireworks and honked car horns early Wednesday to celebrate the U.S. win over the Iranian national team in a politically charged World Cup match that divided the protest-riven country. Cheering fans hit the streets in Iran's Kurdish-majority province of Kurdistan and fireworks lit the skies over the Bukan area of West Azerbaijan province to celebrate the Iranian team’s 1-0 loss. Some shouted “Death to the dictator,” a popular protest slogan referring to the Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The Kurdish areas of Iran have been hot spots of ongoing anti-government demonstrations. The protests first erupted in September, following the death of a young Kurdish woman in the custody of Iran's morality police in the capital of Tehran. The protests quickly morphed into the most serious challenge to Iran's theocracy since its establishment in the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Iranian authorities have blamed foreign actors, chiefly the U.S., for orchestrating the protest movement, but have provided no evidence. Read more: Iran shuts out noise at World Cup but United States looms Iran’s Kurdish-majority areas have seen waves of unrest amid nationwide protests against the government. The national team’s loss to the United States was seen by some as a victory against what they see as oppression by the government. Even in areas of Tehran some chanted protest slogans following the U.S. win. Videos posted online showed cars out on the streets of Saqqez, the capital of Kurdistan province, and the home town of Mahsa Amini, the young woman died in police custody in September. But not everyone was cheering. Parham Azmand, a soccer fan in Tehran, said the Iranian team had done its best. “We worked very hard but we couldn’t score although we did whatever we could," he said. "This was their day (the Americans). Our players did their best and I hope we will perform better in future world cups and God willing go through to the second round.” Following the match, state TV commentator Mohammad Hossein Misaghi said the U.S. took advantage of “many opportunities” in the match. Read more: Iran-US World Cup clash rife with political tension “It was not our day,” said another commentator, Mohammadreza Ahmadi. He brushed off the defeat, saying “a match is like that; it has win and loss."

One youth died, and two others were critically injured after a fight broke out between football fans during a match in Sylhet's Golapganj municipality Friday evening. The incident took place at Nurupara Rangai Bichra ground of ward-9. The youth, identified as 26-year-old Tariq Ahmed, was from ward-7 of the Ronkeli Nayagram area of the municipality. The other two people who were seriously injured are Abu Sufian, 20, and Parvez Ahmed, 21, of the same area. A fight between the supporters of Nayagram and Nurupara took place during a match organised by Ronkeli Tiger Club. "Hearing the news, police immediately rushed to the spot. Three people, including Tariq, were seriously injured in the clash," Harunur Rashid Chowdhury, officer-in-charge of Golapganj Police Station, said. "As locals rushed them to North East Medical College and Hospital, Tariq died of injuries sustained in the clash between rival fans. Others are undergoing treatment at the hospital." 

‘Football, bloody hell!' Fans  often  remember these famous words of the legendary football manager Sir Alex Ferguson, everytime the beautiful game presents some magical set of events that words cannot do justice.  Read: Brazil, Argentina fans fight in B'baria, 4 injured They might have the exact same reaction when they hear that some youths in Bangladesh have been arrested for arranging an amateur football tournament amid the country's stringent Covid-19 lockdown, as if oblivious to the fatal disease being at its peak in the country,  shattering records every other day. As many as 50 were arrested from Chandpur on Friday for violating lockdown restrictions and arranging/attending the football tournament. Read:Breaching Lockdown: Arrests decline at last on weekly holiday The Akkas Ali High School field, near Chandpur Railway Station, was the venue chosen for the tournament, and it was there that the arrests were made. Chandpur Police Super Molin Mahmud confirmed the arrests to UNB. “We made the arrests after receiving information that more than a hundred people had gathered at the field on the pretext of a football tournament,” Molin said. He warned of stricter action if people were found wandering around the streets or arranging mass gatherings during the lockdown.