Iran arrests two female fans at football match
Iran’s judiciary announced that two female spectators have been arrested during a football match at Tehran's Azadi Stadium as the government's push to ban women from games continues.
Iran’s judiciary announced that two female spectators have been arrested during a football match at Tehran's Azadi Stadium as the government's push to ban women from games continues.
The judiciary said the women were detained during a domestic match between Persepolis and Tractor FC for allegedly engaging in “immoral behavior " but did not specify details or the exact charges they face.
Women have been banned from attending football matches in major stadiums like Azadi since the 1979 revolution, with authorities citing concerns over the stadium environment.
While FIFA and human rights organizations have pressured Iran to lift the ban, access remains highly restricted, the government using the country's strict Islamic laws to enforce segregation in what the UN and rights groups have termed "gender apartheid".
In 2019, FIFA intervened after the death of Sahar Khodayari, known as the "Blue Girl," who set herself on fire after being arrested for trying to enter a stadium disguised as a man.
In 2022, a limited number of women were briefly allowed into domestic league matches in Mashhad, though many were blocked from entering despite having tickets.
In spite of the bans at home, Qatar's World Cup in 2022 saw huge numbers of women turn out to support Iran.
