In some cases, Iran has allowed women back into football stadiums, mainly due to pressure from FIFA. But now that footballers are openly criticizing the regime, the world association is still holding back.
It initially sounded like a success story: for the first time in more than 40 years, women in Iran were allowed to watch a league game in the stadium at the end of August. Hundreds came, some with colorful hats and vuvuzelas, looking forward to the long-awaited visit to the stadium.
But there is obviously no real will to progress behind the cheerful pictures. The opening was initially just a test, the women had separate entrances and their own block. Iran’s religious leaders believe it is immoral for women to witness and hear the rough treatment of male fans in football stadiums.
Scandal at World Cup qualifier in Mashad
The world football association FIFA in particular had put pressure on Iran years ago to allow women into the stadiums. This is probably the only reason why women have been allowed to attend World Cup qualifiers again since October 2019, for the first time since the Islamic Revolution in 1979. “And FIFA expects this to continue, there can be no going back,” emphasized the world association.
However, a scandal broke out at the last qualifier at the end of March. It did not take place in the capital, Tehran, but in the religious city of Mashad in northeastern Iran. There, the local security forces denied the women access to the stadium despite valid tickets, and tear gas was said to have been used in some cases.
Iran and the fear of being excluded from the World Cup
FIFA made a statement at the time “with concern” and angry reactions came from the Iranian Football Association FFI. “If the Iranian national team is excluded from the World Cup, then those who were involved in the bitter events in Mashad will be responsible,” tweeted FFI Board Member Mehrdad Seraji.
For a week now, the fight for more women’s rights in Iran has also reached the national players. Before the friendly against Senegal in Austria, they wore black training jackets during the national anthem, which covered the FFI logo and national flag. Previously, several players blacked out their Instagram accounts. They were silent signs of solidarity with the thousands of people who have taken to the streets in Iran since the death of Mahsa Amini.
Mahsa Amini and the protests
The 22-year-old died under unclear circumstances after being arrested by the vice squad in Tehran. There are reports of hits to the head, Amini fell into a coma in police custody and died shortly afterwards in hospital. The authorities deny police violence and sometimes violently suppress the protests.
Amnesty International writes of widespread and systematic use of unlawful force by security forces using live ammunition, buckshot and other metal projectiles. Another human rights organization, Oslo-based Iran Human Rights (IHR), estimates at least 76 people were killed.
National players express criticism
After returning to their clubs, several national players became concrete in their protest. “We are always on the side of the people, who these days are not demanding anything other than their basic rights,” wrote team captain Ali-Resa Dchahanbachsch (Feyenoord Rotterdam) on Instagram on Thursday. He had not been able to comment until then because he was not allowed to use the internet during the national team’s training camp in Austria.
FC Porto striker Mehdi Taremi wrote: “I feel ashamed (as an Iranian) when I see the pictures of the last few days.” Violence is unacceptable and will definitely not solve the country’s problems.
Azmoun, Karimi, Daei and Hashemian among the critics
The star striker Sardar Azmoun from Bayer Leverkusen had previously commented on Instagram. That his post in which he, among other things “shame on you!” and “Long Live Iranian Women” wrote, was deleted, he now justified it this way: “I apologize to my friends in the national team because my hasty action resulted in bloggers insulting my team-mates and disturbing the peace and order within the team.”
Prominent ex-soccer players are also openly opposed to the regime, including former Bundesliga professionals Ali Karimi, Ali Daei and Vahid Hashemian. The sport is rebellious, but the system is powerful – as illustrated by the example of Hossein Tayebi, captain of the national futsal team. At the Asian Championships, he symbolically indicated long women’s hair. According to Iranian journalist Mehdi Amirpoor, Iranian television censored the scene.
Big risk, but FIFA remains silent
With their public protests, the athletes are taking a great risk for themselves and their families. Azmoun can at least count on the support of his employer Bayer Leverkusen. On the other hand, no statement can be heard from FIFA, even when asked. The world association now has the great opportunity to show how much it really cares about women’s rights in Iran.