ZCZC
BSP-16
FBL-WOMEN-FIFA-WC-2022-IRI
Iran ‘assures’ FIFA that women can attend qualifier – Infantino
MILAN, Sept 22, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – FIFA president Gianni Infantino said
Sunday that world footbalil’s governing body has been “assured” by Iranian
authorities that women will be able to attend a World Cup qualifier in Tehran
next month.
FIFA had demanded Iran allow women free unlimited access to stadiums
following the ‘Blue girl’ incident where a woman killed herself after being
arrested trying to access a football stadium.
“We have been assured, that as of the next international game of Iran,
women will be allowed to enter football stadiums,” Infantino told a FIFA
conference on women’s football in Milan on Sunday.
FIFA wants Iran to end its ban on women entering stadiums that breaches
international soccer statutes prohibiting discrimination. “We need to have
women attending, we need to push for that with respect but in a strong and
forceful way and we cannot wait anymore,” Infantino added.
“This is something very important, it is 40 years that this has not
happened, with a couple of exceptions, but it is important to move to the
next level and to the next stage.”
The Islamic republic has barred female spectators from football and other
stadiums since 1981, with clerics arguing they must be protected from the
masculine atmosphere and sight of semi-clad men.
FIFA officials have been in Iran to discus preparations for the October 10
World Cup qualifier against Cambodia, their first home game of the 2022
qualifying competition.
Sahar Khodayari, dubbed “blue girl” because of the colours of the team she
supported, Esteghlal FC, was reportedly detained last year when trying to
enter a stadium dressed as a man to watch them.
She died of her injuries in a Tehran hospital after setting herself on fire
outside a court in early September.
The death of Khodayari sparked an outcry online, with many calling on world
football’s governing body FIFA to ban Iran from international competitions
and for fans to boycott matches.
BSS/AFP/SSS/1927 hrs