Iran prevents women from attending match against Syria

Cairo – 5 September 2017: Iranian authorities announced on Monday that women are still banned from attending the Syria–Iran match at the 2018 World Cup qualifiers by declaring that all invitations sent to them was by mistake.

Many Iranian women expressed their happiness once they saw a blanket column for women on the official website of the Iranian Football Federation; however, their happiness was turned off as the authorities declared that this had happened by mistake and that women aren’t allowed to attend any sports events, especially football and wrestling, as has been agreed upon since 1979, press reports stated.

Sometimes, Iranian authorities allowed women to attend some sports events with some restrictions, including sitting in an isolated stadium, but in 2014, they returned to totally banning women spectators from attending a volleyball match and the from attending the World Cup qualifier match between Syria and Iran.

It is noted that this match will be held on Tuesday, as it is considered to be the 10th round of the first Asian edition in the World Cup qualifiers.