Iranian women allowed to attend sport stadiums again since over 40 years

For the first time in over 40 years Iranian women were allowed to attended a football match, following the ban on women visiting sport stadiums. Only 500 women were allowed to watch the match between Esteghlal FC and Sanat Mes Kerman FC in the Azadi Stadium in Teheran, though they were still separated from the men. Covid-19 restrictions were kept, which allow stadiums only to be filled which maximal 30%.

The ban on women not being allowed to attend sport stadiums was put in place in 1979, shortly after the Islamic Revolution, but it was allowed that few national matches could still be visited. The ban had never been written into the law.

This does not mean a permanent change. The decision came after the FIFA, the football world governing body, wrote Iranian authorities that the ban goes against international football statutes. Going against the ban some women even put on fake beards to enter stadiums.