Women in Azadi Stadium After Long Ban

Football fans enjoyed a festive mood today at Azadi Stadium, brought to them by Iran’s national football team. The players had good reason to be joyous: this was the first time that they were playing in a stadium where not only men, but also Iranian women, were cheering them on. And it was a huge success: They won 14-0 against Cambodia in their qualifying game for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

There was, however, a sour note. The Iranian Football Federation was supposed to sell tickets to women based on demand. But this did not happen. Around 4,000 women successfully bought tickets and entered the stadium — but more than a thousand women were stranded outside the stadium with no tickets, while more than 25,000 seats remained empty inside the stadium. Those waiting and expectant women were kept hidden from the view of three observers sent by FIFA, the International Football Federation, to verify that Iran is obeying FIFA’s rules demanding that women be free to enter stadiums.

Nevertheless, this was the first time that Iranian women — and not only a handpicked group of them — succeeded in attending a football game at Azadi Stadium.

Marc Wilmots, the Belgian manager of Iran’s national team, sent his players into the field with a new and offensive lineup: Alireza Beiranvand, Ehsan Hajsafi, Milad Mohammadi, Ahmad Nourollahi, Morteza Pouraliganji, Karim Ansarifard, Mohammad Hossein Kanaanizadegan, Mehdi Taremi, Sardar Azmoun, Mohammad Mohebi and Ramin Rezaian.

Iran scored its first goal only four minutes into the game, with a long-distance kick by Ahmad Nourollahi, and continued scoring until the closing minutes of the match. Other goals were scored by Sardar Azmoun (3), Karim Ansarifard (4), Mehdi Taremi (2), Mohammad Mohebi (2), Mohammad Hossein Kanaanizadegan (1), and Milad Mohammadi (1).

This was the highest number of goals ever scored by Iran’s national football team at Azadi Stadium. Since “goal” and “flower” sound similar in Persian, some said the astounding victory was like a bouquet, or a festival of flowers to welcome women fans. However it was described, people agreed it was an incredible and warm welcome to Iranian women who were able to attend the match and cheer their team on. 

Related Coverage:

Historic Moment for Iran as Women Allowed into Stadium to Watch Football, October 10, 2019

Iran’s Ban on Female Journalists Entering Stadiums, October 9, 2019

International Football Federation Scrutinizes Iran’s Ticket Quotas for Women, October 7, 2019

Iran: Stadium Seating Cap Endangers Women, October 5, 2019

The World Reacts to the Tragic Death of the “Blue Girl”, September 26, 2019

FIFA Ultimatum to Iran: Let Women in Stadiums, September 23, 2019

FIFA Responds to IranWire about the Death of the “Blue Girl”, September 10, 2019

Woman Who Set Herself on Fire Dies, September 9, 2019

“The Blue Girl” Who Set Herself on Fire — And the Angry Backlash, September 9, 2019

Iran Attempts to Fool FIFA, August 27, 2019

Decoding Iran’s Politics: Football and State Interference, June 11, 2019