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After 40 years ban: Iranian women attend football match in Tehran

2019-10-10T15:44:26.942Z


Iran wins in the World Cup qualifiers 14: 0 against Cambodia. The high victory becomes a minor matter, because for the first time after 40 years, women were allowed to return to the stadium. There was still criticism of the conditions.



A look around the Azadi Stadium in Tehran showed just how low the sporting value of the Iranian World Cup qualifier against Cambodia was this afternoon. Many of the 78,000 seats remained empty, but it was a historic day.

For the first time in almost 40 years, a predetermined number of women were given free access to the stadium. According to media reports, nearly 4,000 women saw a 14-0 (7-0) home victory for Iran. In the second round of the Asian World Cup qualifying Iran lies after two victories in first place and will meet as a World Cup participant 2018 favorites role so far.

For the Iranian women, however, it was about much more than just football. For them it is a great success in their decades-long fight against the strict Islamic regulations of the arch-conservative clergy and against their discrimination in the country.

Atta Kenare / AFP

The female fans fill four blocks in the Azadi Stadium

Four hours before the match, the women arrived wrapped in Iran flags and "Victory" signs in the sports complex. Some of them cried for joy. Under the hashtag "Come with me to the stadium" they reflect with pictures and videos their first visit to the stadium - and the associated historic taboo break. Fifa also contributed to this success. The World Football Association had threatened with an exclusion of Iran from the World Cup in neighboring Qatar, if women continue to be banned entry.

Criticism of the separation between men and women

For women, the Ministry of Sport had built four separate bleachers with a capacity of approximately 4,000 seats. In addition, female police officers, emergency physicians and stadium leaders were deployed especially for the women. The women's tickets were sold out in no time - many more spectators did not come to the Azadi Stadium. The women demand for the coming games at least two more grandstands and a higher ticket contingent.

Criticism was provided by the fences, which had been specially converted for the game, to separate the four women's stands from those of the men. "If you want to lock us in a cage to protect us from the men," protested an Iranian on Twitter. They also demand from the Ministry of Sport family and not only women's tribunes, so that their husbands and sons can accompany them.

Because of the women's premiere, the media interest was very large. However, there were restrictions from the authorities. Female photographers were not accredited, although previously promised by the Ministry of Sport. The male photographers and TV teams were also allowed to make any pictures of the entry of women into the stadium.

Source: spiegel

All sports articles on 2019-10-10

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