History was made at TEHRAN’S AZADI STADIUM as 4,600 women were permitted entry for the first time in almost 40 years to watch IRAN’S FIFA World Cup 2022 qualifier against CAMBODIA.
An unofficial ban on women entering stadiums had been in place since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, but came to an end as women flooded into the stadium to watch their side’s 14-0 triumph.
The IRANIAN FOOTBALL FEDERATION (FFIRI) initially allocated 3,500 tickets for women after pressure from FIFA and human rights groups in the wake of protester SAHAR KHODAYARI’S death in September.
KHODAYARI set herself on fire outside a court in Iran’s capital city after she was summoned to face charges for attempting to enter the AZADI STADIUM disguised as a man.
When the tickets sold out in less than an hour, an additional 1,100 were made available.
Men and women were kept apart inside the AZADI STADIUM, with special sections set aside under gender segregation.
Football fans took to social media after the game to celebrate a victory for women in IRAN, with emotional scenes from TEHRAN trending on Twitter.
Amnesty also called on Iranian authorities to immediately drop all charges against women facing prosecution for attempting to enter a football stadium or protesting such restrictions.
“The Iranian authorities should lift all restrictions on women attending football matches, including domestic league games, across the country,” added LUTHER.
“The international community, including world football’s governing body FIFA, must also ensure that women are permitted to attend all matches freely and without discrimination.
“FIFA has a responsibility to respect human rights throughout its operations, and the power under its statutes to take definitive and urgent action to address a situation which it has allowed to continue for far too long.”
FIFA President GIANNI INFANTINO said more work needs to be done, but congratulated the supporters who attended.
