Iran Vice President: Women’s Entry into Stadiums A Step Forward

In an interview with Iran daily, Masoumeh Ebtekar said the Iranian women have been finally allowed entry into football stadiums after two years of efforts to prepare the necessary infrastructures.

She said more than 4,000 tickets have been sold to women as of Saturday for Iran’s upcoming match against Cambodia in a home game of the FIFA 2022 qualifying competition, noting that although the number of the seats allocated to women is very low in comparison to the 100,000 seats available at Tehran’s Azadi Stadium, this is yet the result of “very positive steps” that have been taken in recent years.

Ebtekar said the administration has been struggling to fulfill the women’s demands in compliance with the law, religion, and regulations, citing a recently-approved law that allows children with an Iranian mother and a non-Iranian father to obtain the country’s citizenship.

She also called on the spectators and football fans to take the presence of women in the stadiums into consideration, stressing that the sports arenas must be among the healthiest parts of the society.

In September, president of football’s world governing body, FIFA, said his organization has been assured by Iran that women will be allowed to attend men’s football matches from the next international game.

Gianni Infantino said this important move has been long overdue. “We have been assured that as of the next international game of Iran, which is to be played on the 10th of October, women will be allowed to enter football stadiums. This is something very important.”

“Since 40 years this was not happening, with a couple of exceptions. But it is important to move to the next level and to the next stage with, of course, our thoughts to all the women of Iran, but also all the women around the world,” Infantino added.