The Iran – Iraq qualifying match for the 2022 World Cup played this Thursday in Tehran will remain historic. Not only because Iran won (1-0) and is the fourteenth country to validate its ticket for the 2022 World Cup (November 21 to December 18) and the second in the Asia zone after Qatar, qualified as host country. But above all because women were able to attend this match. Of the 10,000 tickets available, 2,000 were reserved for them. A first for almost 3 years.
” I am very happy. This is the first time I have attended a match at the Azadi stadium. I bought the tickets online and received a confirmation SMS,” Mahya, a 26-year-old civil engineer, told AFP, her head covered with a gray scarf, who proudly wears the national flag.
Prohibition for 40 years
For about 40 years, the Islamic Republic has prohibited female spectators from entering stadiums, particularly for football matches. The clerics, who play a prominent role in the country, maintain that they must be protected from the male atmosphere and from the sight of partially undressed men. But the situation has changed in recent years. On September 2, 2019, a young woman, Sahar Khodayari, set herself on fire in front of a court for fear of being imprisoned for wanting to attend a match.
Nicknamed “Blue Girl” because of the colors of the club she supported (Esteghlal FC), she had tried to enter a stadium while disguised as a boy. His death had caused an outcry, with many calling for Iran to be banned from international fixtures and a boycott of matches. In September 2019, FIFA ordered Iran to allow women unrestricted access to stadiums. This was the case for Iran – Cambodia in October 2019. But with the Covid, the Iranian selection had since played its matches behind closed doors.
During this Thursday’s match, the women entered the stadium through a special entrance via a parking lot where policewomen in chadors checked them. The men reached it through another entrance.