FIFA sees no obstacles for women to attend games in Iran
CGTN

Translating...

Content is automatically generated by Microsoft Azure Translator Text API. CGTN is not responsible for any of the translations.

Iranian women cheer for their team when they are allowed to watch the Russia FIFA World Cup group match between Iran and Portugal on big screens at Azadi Stadium in Tehran, Iran, June 25, 2019. /VCG Photo

Iranian women cheer for their team when they are allowed to watch the Russia FIFA World Cup group match between Iran and Portugal on big screens at Azadi Stadium in Tehran, Iran, June 25, 2019. /VCG Photo

Football's governing body FIFA says an inspection visit to Iran has shown "no noteworthy operational obstacles" to lifting the country's 40-year ban and letting women attend a World Cup qualifying game next month.

After meeting government and football officials in Tehran this week, FIFA says it will work with Iran's football body to also open domestic league games to female fans.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino (L) presents a complimentary flag to Iran's Minister of Sport and Youth Masoud Soltanifar in Tehran, Iran, March 1, 2018. /VCG Photo

FIFA president Gianni Infantino (L) presents a complimentary flag to Iran's Minister of Sport and Youth Masoud Soltanifar in Tehran, Iran, March 1, 2018. /VCG Photo

FIFA tells Iran it is time to allow women into stadiums

FIFA wants Iran to end its ban on women entering stadiums which breaches international football statutes prohibiting discrimination.

Iran, who have qualified for five World Cup finals, including each of the last two, will host Cambodia on October 10 in their first home game of the 2022 qualifying competition.

Ahead of Iran's match at the 78,000-capacity Azadi Stadium next month, FIFA says the visit on Thursday focused on "international relations, security and ticketing matters."

Iranian officials were told of FIFA's "firm and clear position that women need to be allowed to enter football matches freely" with tickets sold to as many who wanted to attend.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino said in a statement he was hopeful that the Iranian football federation and government authorities had been receptive to "our repeated calls to address this unacceptable situation."

He added, "Our position is clear and firm. Women have to be allowed into football stadiums in Iran. Now is the moment to change things and FIFA is expecting positive developments starting in the next Iran home match in October."

A female fan of Iran shows her support prior to the FIFA World Cup group match between Iran and Portugal in Saransk, Russia, June 25, 2018. /VCG Photo

A female fan of Iran shows her support prior to the FIFA World Cup group match between Iran and Portugal in Saransk, Russia, June 25, 2018. /VCG Photo

'Blue Girl'

Global attention on the ban followed the death this month of a 29-year-old female football fan, Sahar Khodayari.

Dubbed "Blue Girl" for the colors of her favorite team Esteghlal, Khodayari died in hospital after her self-immolation outside a courthouse. She had been detained for dressing as a man to enter a football stadium in Tehran and faced six months in prison.

Khodayari's death has caused widespread outrage in Iran and internationally, prompting calls on social media for Iran's football federation to be suspended or banned by FIFA.

Critics say FIFA's own statutes hold discrimination on grounds of gender punishable by suspension or expulsion.

There were signs the situation regarding female fans in Iran was changing when a group of women was permitted to attend the second leg of the Asian Champions League final in Tehran last November, a match where Infantino was present.

Female fans, however, have been denied access to matches since. At Iran's friendly against Syria in June, women were locked out of the Azadi Stadium and detained by security forces.

(With input from AP and Reuters)

TOP NEWS
Xi Jinping to attend Macao's 25-year return anniversary celebration
{"type":2,"value":"CGTN","commentator":[],"valueShow":true,"commentatorShow":false}

Politics

01:32, 14-Dec-2024

China's economic conference highlights high-level opening-up
{"type":2,"value":"CGTN","commentator":[],"valueShow":true,"commentatorShow":false}

Economy

07:16, 14-Dec-2024

South Korean lawmakers vote to impeach President Yoon Suk-yeol
{"type":2,"value":"CGTN","commentator":[],"valueShow":true,"commentatorShow":false}

Asia Pacific

08:00, 14-Dec-2024