Next Thursday (10 October), Iran will host Cambodia on Matchday Two of the Asian Qualifiers for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and the 2023 Asian Cup in China. The importance of this game cannot be ignored by anyone as the constant pressure from FIFA on the Football Federation of Iran is finally making the dreams of Iranian women wanting to watch football in stadiums come true.
After the Islamic revolution, Iranian women were banned from football stadiums with some exceptions (only some women were allowed to enter stadiums on particular occasions). This unofficial policy continues to come mainly from the religious leaders arguing that the ban is to protect women from the rowdy atmosphere of the stadium.
Iran can be considered the only Muslim majority country in the world that still has this policy, preventing women from a very basic and beautiful form of support although this prevention has led to many instances where women have disguised themselves in order to attend football matches. For example, Sahar Khodayari, 29 (known as the blue girl) was detained by police after an altercationm and released after three nights in jail. Having learned that she could be imprisoned for six months, she committed self-immolation.
It should be pointed out that Iranian women have been fighting for freedom for decades and due to the pressure from activists inside and outside the countrym there has been improvement in this regard, resulting in the promise by Iranian officials to allow women to enter Azadi stadium to watch the game between Iran and Cambodia on October 10.
It seems that Sahar's death has prompted calls to end the ban of women not being able to enter stadiums. What's more, following this tragedy, Iran's top football team, Esteghlal FC, held one minute's silence before their training session in honour of their fan.
The football club also issued a tweet expressing their solidarity, a move which could put the club in a dangerous situation due to the conservative environment of Iranian politics.
Our dear Sahar burnt herself to death, when she was charged to 6 month in jail for … going to the stadium to support her #Esteghlal. She supported us despite the politics made it illegal for her, but what we do can do to support her? ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.
We are cowards. pic.twitter.com/VTKKa0jvIN
— Esteghlal (@EsteghlalFC_En) September 9, 2019
The important point, however, is the larger implication of the question: “Why is it important for women to go to a stadium and watch football?”
It should be noted that women have always been at the forefront of many civil right movements in Iran. The issue of allowing (or not allowing) women to go to stadiums is not just about the enjoyment of watching a football game, but also taking their own right back that they had before the revolution. In this regard, FIFA has been taking firmer steps than previously to make sure Iran stops the gender apartheid.
Moreover, the ban is a violation of the rules in FIFA’s constitution in which Article 4 states that discrimination against women “is strictly prohibited and punishable by suspension or expulsion.”
It is now vital for Iran to follow the rule as this violation will lead to the suspension of the Football Federation of Iran in the future.