TEHRAN: Since the 1979 revolution, women in Iran have been prohibited from entering sports stadiums.
In a significant development, Iranian women have been granted permission to watch matches live from stadiums. This official announcement marked an end to Iran’s long-standing ban on women from attending football games.
The decision was made by Iran’s Football Federation chief, Mehdi Taj, during the live broadcast of the drawing ceremony for the upcoming top-level football season.
Since the 1979 revolution, women in Iran have been prohibited from entering sports stadiums, despite there being no specific law in the Iranian constitution that explicitly bans them from attending matches.
The decision to exclude women from stadiums has been influenced by the views of clerics. They argue that women should be shielded from the masculine atmosphere and the sight of semi-clad male athletes.
However, Taj confirmed that some stadiums in Isfahan, Kerman, and Ahvaz (but not Tehran) were “ready” to host women. This follows a previous instance in August. Women attended a historic football match between Tehran’s Esteghlal and Mes Kerman, marking their first-ever permission to do so.
The pressure to allow women into stadiums has been mounting in Iran. This was intensified after the tragic death of Sahar Khodayari, a football fan who set herself on fire in 2019 when she feared being jailed for attempting to attend a match disguised as a man. Her story became a symbol for the movement advocating for women’s access to stadiums. After years of struggle, it appears that Iranian women may finally have the opportunity to enjoy football matches in stadiums.
The recent decision to allow Iranian women to attend stadium football matches reflects changing societal attitudes in Iran. It marks a positive step towards gender equality in sports.
