Following a match in a busy cafe, Iranian fan Somayyeh Rajabpour said “watching like this is more exciting.” Another female fan, Mahsa Alipour said “All the people love it. They love soccer a lot. For me personally, although I may not know much about soccer, I am so excited by the games.” Iranian President Hassan Rouhani’s chief of staff said last week that women would be allowed into stadiums if foul language in chants and sporadic violence was curbed. “We don’t see a problem with women attending if the atmosphere in stadiums is convenient… but with so much foul language among fans and violence, this is not advisable,” Mahmoud Vaezi told state television.
Government spokesman Ali Rabiei told a news conference, “We believe that women can enter stadiums, but I am sure you agree that a portion of society is worried about their presence.” He said women would be present at Iran’s game with Cambodia. “Their presence will increase step by step.” The move is seen as a first step towards opening national games to women. Vaezi said the sports minister would contact leaders of supporter groups to “improve the atmosphere from a moral standpoint” and special areas for women would be set up in stadiums. FIFA officials are expected to visit Iran on Wednesday, as part of preparations for Iran’s World Cup qualifying games, the semi-official news agency YJC reported.
Sahar Khodayari, dubbed “Blue Girl” after her favourite team’s colours, died in hospital just over a week ago after setting herself alight outside a court where she feared being jailed for six months. She had tried to attend a match disguised as a man. “They do not let us inside the stadiums. But we were so good like this today, inside the shopping centre,” said Atieh, who was among a group of men and women watching a soccer game at a cafe in Tehran. “Men did not say anything improper at all, and we were all together, all fine, watching the match.” A female architect, who did not give her name, said however that she objected to women at football stadiums, “because of the cultural problems we have, not just in grounds but even in our normal urban atmosphere.”
In a welcome development for travelers, flights operated by Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) in the…
“Agriculture, as a sector, hold the key to prosperity, food security, and the socioeconomic upliftment…
Months after a witty, holier-than-thou, jack-of-all-trades caretaker government retreated from the executive, repeated horrors from…
For all those hoping to see matured Pak-India relations enter a new chapter of normalisation,…
Narendra Modi is seeking the premiership of the country for the record third time. The…
Leave a Comment