TEHERAN (AFP) – Iran has as soon as once more denied girls entry to a soccer stadium to look at a global match, leaving lots of of ticketed followers locked out, Iranian media stated Wednesday (March 30).
The World Cup qualifier in opposition to Lebanon on Tuesday night time, gained 2-0 by Iran, was performed on the Imam Reza stadium within the northeastern metropolis of Mashhad.
“About 2,000 Iranian women, who had bought tickets for the Iran-Lebanon match, were present in the perimeter of Imam Reza stadium, but could not enter the stadium,” ISNA information company stated.
Iran’s workforce captain Alireza Jahanbakhsh joined in criticism of the lockout.
“I don’t think anything would have happened if women had come to the stadium, and this could promote our culture,” he stated, quoted on IRIB state tv.
Mohsen Davari, governor of Mashhad, advised IRIB: “I apologise that many people couldn’t enter the stadium…”
“Unfortunately, a large number of people outside the stadium were deprived of watching the game.”
In the face of the controversy, President Ebrahim Raisi on Wednesday instructed the inside ministry to look into the incident.
For his half, Iran’s lawyer common Mohammad Jafar Montazeri stated on radio that “if conditions allowed the sale of tickets to women, a suitable place had to be found for them”.
The case was “not acceptable… and shows poor management”, he stated.
In January, girls had been allowed to attend a global for the primary time in virtually three years, for a World Cup qualifier in opposition to Iraq.
The Islamic republic has typically barred feminine spectators from soccer and different sports activities stadiums because it was established in 1979.
Clerics, who play a significant position in decision-making, argue girls have to be shielded from the masculine environment and sight of semi-clad males.
But world soccer’s governing physique Fifa ordered Iran in September 2019 to permit girls entry to stadiums with out restriction and in numbers to be decided in line with demand for tickets.
The Fifa directive, threatening Iran’s suspension from competitions, got here after a fan, Sahar Khodayari, died having set herself on hearth in worry of being jailed after attempting to attend a match in disguise.
She had reportedly been detained in 2018 as she tried to enter a stadium dressed as a male.
Her loss of life sparked an outcry, leading to requires Iran to be banned and its matches boycotted.
Fifa had been pushing for years for Iran to open its stadiums to girls, however Teheran had till 2019 solely allowed a restricted variety of girls to attend matches on uncommon events.
“Fifa has heard with concerns reports that women were not allowed at the match in Mashhad yesterday and is asking the Iranian Football Federation more information on this matter,” a Fifa spokesperson advised AFP.
“(Our) place is obvious: historic progress has been achieved – as exemplified by the milestone in October 2019, when hundreds of girls had been allowed into the stadium for the primary time in 40 years and extra lately when some girls had been allowed once more on the World Cup qualifier in Tehran in January.
“Fifa expects this to continue, as there can be no turning back.”
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