Iranian spectators put their point across during the England vs Iran match (Picture: Getty Images)

England’s Three Lions kicked off their World Cup campaign with a historic 6-2 victory – but it was opponents Iran who won praise for their courageous protests over human rights violations at home.

Skipper Harry Kane backed down from his vow to wear a rainbow-coloured OneLove armband supporting gay rights in host nation Qatar after Fifa told FA bosses he could receive a yellow card. But Iran’s team – nicknamed The Lions – risked their safety by refusing to sing the national anthem and fans booed it or made thumbs-down signs.

Female supporters were also pictured with banners they had smuggled into the Khalifa stadium in Doha to protest at the crackdown on women refusing to wear the hijab. Footage of their defiance was censored by Iran’s state TV on the day five people were shot dead in an anti-government protest.

Fan Delara Jahani, 37 – at the match but not allowed to attend men’s matches at home – said of the players: ‘Their actions were good for all Iranians who are against this regime. They showed they are supporting the people and now the people will feel different about them.’

There have been two months of protests in Iran over the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini while in police custody for not wearing a head-covering.

Team captain Ehsan Hajsafi had spoken out in support of activists a day earlier, insisting: ‘We are with them. And we support them. And we sympathise with them.’

BBC’s Alex wears OneLove as a symbolic gesture on air (Picture: BBC)

England’s Jude Bellingham celebrates scoring their side’s first goal of the game with team-mate Mason Mount (Picture: PA Wire)

Sixteen of Iran’s 25 squad members play for foreign clubs and celebrations of their consolation goals were muted.

England’s comprehensive 6-2 victory included two goals from Bukayo Saka – abused by racists after missing England’s final shoot-out penalty in last year’s Euro 2020 final defeat to Italy. Nineteen-year-old Jude Bellingham headed the opener after 35 minutes, while Raheem Sterling scored his first World Cup goal in his third tournament and Marcus Rashford netted seconds after coming on as a sub.

England fans celebrate the second goal, scored by Bukayo Saka, at BoxPark Wembley (Picture: PA Wire)

Children at Caludon Castle School, Coventry, celebrate England’s sixth goal (Picture: PA Wire)

The sixth was from Jack Grealish, who then celebrated with an arm 
wiggle he promised an 11-year-old fan with cerebral palsy.

England beat Panama 6-1 in the last World Cup in Russia four years ago – but it was their biggest first-match win after two-goal margins in 1950, 1962, 1982 and 1998.

Megan Pickford, wife of England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, sits in the stands before the match (Picture: PA Wire)

Phil Foden celebrates with family and friends following England’s 6-1 win (Picture: Getty Images)

Harry Maguire joins his family after the match (Picture: Getty Images)

Bukayo Saka relaxes with his family and friends after 90 minutes (Picture: Getty Images)

Mason Mount hugs his daughter while surrounded by friends and family (Picture: Getty Images)

Jack Grealish rests on a partition to hug his girlfriend (Picture: Getty Images)

Gareth Southgate’s men took the knee before kick-off in a symbolic gesture against racism.

Harry Kane had to wear a Fifa-approved No Discrimination armband but BBC One pundit Alex Scott took on the mantle, wearing a OneLove version for pitchside interviews. The Football Supporters’ Association said of Fifa’s late ruling: ‘We feel contempt for an organisation that has shown its true values by giving the yellow card to players and the red card to tolerance.’

Marcus Rashford unwinds after the match with friends and family (Picture: Getty Images)

England LGBT fan group 3 Lions Pride said: ‘Fifa are guilty of crushing the basic human rights to freedom of speech and expression that every single one of us should have without question.’

And Robbie de Santos, of Stonewall, said: ‘Fifa have acted to brush criticism of human rights under the carpet.’

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Wales were also among seven European teams hoping to wear the OneLove armband in a country which outlaws same-sex relationships. In a joint statement, their federations said they would have paid fines but ‘cannot put our players in a situation where they may be booked or even forced to leave the field of play’.

Last night, women Welsh supporters had rainbow bucket hats confiscated before their clash with USA – while men were allowed to keep theirs.

England fans had faced delays entering the stadium after Fifa’s e-ticketing app broke down yesterday. And concerns grew over matches appearing poorly attended.

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Harry Kane had to wear a Fifa-approved No Discrimination armband