Women in Iran attend domestic football league match for first time in over 40 years | The Business Standard
Skip to main content
  • Latest
  • Economy
    • Banking
    • Stocks
    • Industry
    • Analysis
    • Bazaar
    • RMG
    • Corporates
    • Aviation
  • Videos
    • TBS Today
    • TBS Stories
    • TBS World
    • News of the day
    • TBS Programs
    • Podcast
    • Editor's Pick
  • World+Biz
  • Features
    • Panorama
    • The Big Picture
    • Pursuit
    • Habitat
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Mode
    • Tech
    • Explorer
    • Brands
    • In Focus
    • Book Review
    • Earth
    • Food
    • Luxury
    • Wheels
  • More
    • Sports
    • TBS Graduates
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • Gallery
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Magazine
    • Climate Change
    • Health
    • Cartoons
  • বাংলা
The Business Standard

Wednesday
June 11, 2025

Sign In
Subscribe
  • Latest
  • Economy
    • Banking
    • Stocks
    • Industry
    • Analysis
    • Bazaar
    • RMG
    • Corporates
    • Aviation
  • Videos
    • TBS Today
    • TBS Stories
    • TBS World
    • News of the day
    • TBS Programs
    • Podcast
    • Editor's Pick
  • World+Biz
  • Features
    • Panorama
    • The Big Picture
    • Pursuit
    • Habitat
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Mode
    • Tech
    • Explorer
    • Brands
    • In Focus
    • Book Review
    • Earth
    • Food
    • Luxury
    • Wheels
  • More
    • Sports
    • TBS Graduates
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • Gallery
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Magazine
    • Climate Change
    • Health
    • Cartoons
  • বাংলা
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11, 2025
Women in Iran attend domestic football league match for first time in over 40 years

Sports

Hindustan Times
29 August, 2022, 04:20 pm
Last modified: 29 August, 2022, 04:21 pm

Related News

  • How football is uniting the Arab world
  • 'Football gods bless those who score', says Iran coach Queiroz after 1-0 defeat against USA
  • USA keep cool to win heated battle against emotional Iran and gain knockout qualification
  • 24 years apart, Abedzadeh and Reyna set to relive family history in Iran vs USA clash
  • Fans brace for politically charged US-Iran clash

Women in Iran attend domestic football league match for first time in over 40 years

The women were seated separately from the men and many of them waved flags, wore jerseys and chanted 'Blue Girl, in acknowledgement of Sahar Khodayari, who set herself on fire while awaiting trial for trying to attend a match disguised as a man. Khodayari is called "Blue Girl" due to the team she supported and she is also a symbol of the struggle for women's rights in the country.

Hindustan Times
29 August, 2022, 04:20 pm
Last modified: 29 August, 2022, 04:21 pm
Women in Iran attend domestic football league match for first time in over 40 years

Iranian state media has revealed that women in the country officially attended a domestic football league match for the first time since the 1979 Islamic revolution. The women attended the match between home side Estaqlal and rivals Mes-e-Kerman at the Azadi Stadium in Tehran, on Thursday.

The women were seated separately from the men and many of them waved flags, wore jerseys and chanted 'Blue Girl, in acknowledgement of Sahar Khodayari, who set herself on fire while awaiting trial for trying to attend a match disguised as a man. Khodayari is called "Blue Girl" due to the team she supported and she is also a symbol of the struggle for women's rights in the country.

The government allowed women to go for the match after FIFA sent a letter to the Iranian authorities to permit more women into stadiums as prohibiting them is against international football statutes. In 2019, Iranian women were allowed to watch the AFC Champions League final between Persepolis and Japan's Kawashima Antlers in Tehran.

The Business Standard Google News Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel

In January 2022, they were also allowed to watch Iran's FIFA World Cup qualifier against Iraq at the Azadi Stadium.

شعار #دخترآبی و شعار #وریای_باغیرت حرف تو حرف ملت روی سکوهای #آزادی توسط #هواداران_زن استقلال pic.twitter.com/J9z5pdwFMY— شرق (@SharghDaily) August 25, 2022

But the women fans were allowed in March this year, to attend Iran's World Cup qualifier against Lebanon at the Imam Reza Stadium in Mashhad. During that time, ISNA news agency said, "About 2,000 Iranian women, who had bought tickets for the Iran-Lebanon match, were present in the perimeter of Imam Reza stadium, but could not enter the stadium."

Iran captain Alireza Jahanbaksh also criticized it and said, "I don't think anything would have happened if women had come to the stadium, and this could promote our culture".

Football

Iran football / Women in Iran

Comments

While most comments will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive, moderation decisions are subjective. Published comments are readers’ own views and The Business Standard does not endorse any of the readers’ comments.

Top Stories

  • Maintaining a cordial relationship between patients and doctors at this tense time of an ongoing pandemic is more important than ever before. Photo: Mumit M
    Covid-19 testing to resume at hospitals amid rising infections
  • Members of law enforcement work to clear the area, as protests against federal immigration sweeps continue, in downtown Los Angeles, California, US June 10, 2025. Photo: REUTERS
    US cities brace for more protests as parts of Los Angeles placed under curfew
  • Chief Adviser Professor Dr Muhammad Yunus (L) and British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer (R). Photo: BSS
    UK PM visiting Canada, will meet CA if schedule matches: CA press secy

MOST VIEWED

  • Illustration: Duniya Jahan/ TBS
    Forget Katy Perry, here’s Bangladesh’s Ruthba Yasmin shooting for the moon
  • A file photo of Bangladesh Bank Governor Dr Ahsan H Mansur. Photo: Collected
    'I have no relation with this': Ahsan Mansur debunks Joy’s allegations over daughter’s Dubai flat
  • Faiz Ahmad Tayeb. Photo: BSS
    Import duty on raw materials for e-bikes, lithium batteries reduced from 80% to 1% in some cases: Faiz Taiyeb
  • Screengrab from video shows a group of local youths forcing tourists to leave a tourist spot in Utmachhra area of Sylhet's Companiganj on Sunday, 8 June 2025, citing allegations of obscene activities and environmental damage
    Locals declare tourist spot in Sylhet 'closed', force visitors to leave
  • Shakil Ahmed. Photo: Collected
    DU student allegedly hangs himself following threats over old derogatory comment about Prophet on Facebook
  • Photo shows the Land Cruiser Prado car belonging to former member of parliament (MP) Anwarul Azim Anar found in Kushtia. Photo: TBS
    Luxury car of ex-AL MP Anar, who was killed in Kolkata, found in Kushtia

Related News

  • How football is uniting the Arab world
  • 'Football gods bless those who score', says Iran coach Queiroz after 1-0 defeat against USA
  • USA keep cool to win heated battle against emotional Iran and gain knockout qualification
  • 24 years apart, Abedzadeh and Reyna set to relive family history in Iran vs USA clash
  • Fans brace for politically charged US-Iran clash

Features

Illustration: Duniya Jahan/ TBS

Forget Katy Perry, here’s Bangladesh’s Ruthba Yasmin shooting for the moon

18h | Features
File photo of Eid holidaymakers returning to the capital from their country homes/Rajib Dhar

Dhaka: The city we never want to return to, but always do

2d | Features
Photo collage shows political posters in Bagerhat. Photos: Jannatul Naym Pieal

From Sheikh Dynasty to sibling rivalry: Bagerhat signals a turning tide in local politics

3d | Bangladesh
Illustration: TBS

Unbearable weight of the white coat: The mental health crisis in our medical colleges

6d | Panorama

More Videos from TBS

Curfew ordered in downtown Los Angeles after looting and vandalism

Curfew ordered in downtown Los Angeles after looting and vandalism

28m | TBS World
Israel kidnapped me in international waters: Greta Thunberg

Israel kidnapped me in international waters: Greta Thunberg

1h | TBS World
Is the chief adviser's meeting with the British Prime Minister uncertain?

Is the chief adviser's meeting with the British Prime Minister uncertain?

2h | TBS Stories
Aviation giants Airbus, Menzies seek long-time partnership with Bangladesh

Aviation giants Airbus, Menzies seek long-time partnership with Bangladesh

3h | TBS Stories
EMAIL US
contact@tbsnews.net
FOLLOW US
WHATSAPP
+880 1847416158
The Business Standard
  • About Us
  • Contact us
  • Sitemap
  • Advertisement
  • Privacy Policy
  • Comment Policy
Copyright © 2025
The Business Standard All rights reserved
Technical Partner: RSI Lab

Contact Us

The Business Standard

Main Office -4/A, Eskaton Garden, Dhaka- 1000

Phone: +8801847 416158 - 59

Send Opinion articles to - oped.tbs@gmail.com

For advertisement- sales@tbsnews.net