All Football Matches in Iran Closed to Spectators

Heydar Baharvand, President of the Iran Football League Organization, has ordered the heads of the country's province-level football leagues to tell them not to allow spectators into matches until further notice.

In a letter reported on by Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA), Baharvand said he had taken the decision based on a directive by the Interior Ministry that stated Covid-19 safety protocols were not being observed in most stadia.

Though new reported infections in Iran have decreased significantly since the last peak in January, coronavirus remains a matter of concern in Iran and vaccine drives have been patchy. 

For matches to be opened up to fans again, Baharvand said, ticket sales must be coordinated with the Health Ministry's public health information system, My Iran, which tracks purchasers' vaccination status.