Women in Iran, who’ve lengthy been barred from attending soccer matches aside from uncommon events, will probably be allowed into stadiums in the course of the upcoming season, a high official stated Sunday. “This year, one of the prominent features of this league… is that we will witness the entry of women into stadiums,” stated Mehdi Taj, head of Iran’s Football Federation. He was talking throughout a stay broadcast of the draw ceremony for the upcoming season of Iran’s high stage soccer league. The 16-team event is about to start subsequent month.

Iran has largely barred feminine spectators from soccer and different sports activities stadiums because the Islamic revolution of 1979, regardless of no legislation banning their participation.

Clerics, who play a significant function in decision-making in Iran, have argued that girls should be shielded from the masculine ambiance and sight of semi-clad male athletes.

Some officers have blamed missing infrastructure in sports activities services.

Taj on Sunday stated some stadiums within the cities of Isfahan, Kerman and Ahvaz — however not the capital Tehran — have been “ready” to host girls.

In August, girls have been allowed for the primary time in years to attend a nationwide soccer championship match, when Tehran membership Esteghlal took on Mes Kerman.

In one other uncommon occasion in October 2019, some 4,000 girls have been allowed to attend Iran’s 2022 World Cup qualifier in opposition to Cambodia at Tehran’s Azadi Stadium.

Iran has confronted mounting stress to permit girls into matches after the 2019 dying of soccer fan Sahar Khodayari, who set herself on fireplace for worry of being jailed after attempting to attend a match disguised as a person.

Khodayari grew to become generally known as the “blue girl” after the colors of her favorite aspect, Esteghlal.

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