Iran in Women's Football Championships

[Pure]

Payvand's Iran News ...

10/2/05

Debutant Iran stands second at West Asian women's football tournament

TEHRAN, Oct. 2 (Mehr News Agency) – Iran made debut in the West Asian Women's Football Championships and finished runner-up to host country Jordan Saturday night. The Iranian side conceded a 2-1 loss in a tough final.

Iran's national women's soccer team celebrate after receiving their sliver medals at the West Asian Soccer Federation Women's Championship at Amman Stadium, Jordan, Saturday. (Reuters Photo)

World websites gave a blanket coverage to the tournament particularly Iran's games as female footballers observed the Islamic dress code.

Excitement Mounts Over Germany-Iran Soccer Friendly

Young Iranian women play soccer in a park in Tehran

Iran's women fans await stadium access
(read the rest of the controversy, click title above)

Football frenzy

Football in Iran has many female fans.

In 1998, hundreds of women forced their way into the Azadi Sport Complex in Tehran to welcome home the victorious national team which had defeated Australia in a World Cup qualifying game.

The authorities turned a blind eye to the "incident" and the subsequent female jubilation on the street.

A women's football league was formed later that year.

All women football matches are held indoors and no male spectator is allowed to watch.

In recent years there has been a growing movement in the media to allow women to attend men's football games.

Zanan, a women's monthly magazine, criticised the authorities for their "discriminatory practices" when they allowed the female fans of Ireland's football team to attend the World Cup 2002 qualifying match in Tehran's national stadium.

Earlier this year the now banned pro-reform daily Azad published an article saying that some girls liked football so much that they would disguise themselves as boys to get into the stadium and watch the games.

[catmando]

Congrats to the medal-winning Iranian women's team. Now they need to fight for the right to wear shorts like the men.

[Goku]

[PIE]Cool.[/PIE]

[Joe98]

Are Iranian men allowed to watch the games?

Hey there! Looks like you're enjoying the discussion, but you're not signed up for an account.

When you create an account, you can participate in the discussions and share your thoughts. You also get notifications, here and via email, whenever new posts are made. And you can like posts and make new friends.
Sign Up

[Woodrow]

Are Iranian men allowed to watch the games?

From Pure's post:

"Football frenzy

Football in Iran has many female fans.

In 1998, hundreds of women forced their way into the Azadi Sport Complex in Tehran to welcome home the victorious national team which had defeated Australia in a World Cup qualifying game.

The authorities turned a blind eye to the "incident" and the subsequent female jubilation on the street.

A women's football league was formed later that year.

All women football matches are held indoors and no male spectator is allowed to watch.

In recent years there has been a growing movement in the media to allow women to attend men's football games.

Zanan, a women's monthly magazine, criticised the authorities for their "discriminatory practices" when they allowed the female fans of Ireland's football team to attend the World Cup 2002 qualifying match in Tehran's national stadium.

Earlier this year the now banned pro-reform daily Azad published an article saying that some girls liked football so much that they would disguise themselves as boys to get into the stadium and watch the games."

Which really dosen't make much sense if you look at the third picture in the first post. Although it is girls playing in the park, you can see male spectators in the background.

[aljawaad]

Yeah i dnt fink its rih for Muslimah to participate in official tournaments although they are wearing Islamic clothes.

[Eric H]

Greetings and peace Pure,

You just have to admire their dedication to the sport and what they have achieved; compared to other countries they have to face a lot of restrictions. Just imagine what a handicap it must be to wear all those clothes, it must slow them down, maybe they are getting a little extra help from up above to compensate?:)

Take care

Eric

[minaz]

maybe they are getting a little extra help from up above to compensate?

That always help :)

[catmando]

Yeah i dnt fink its rih for Muslimah to participate in official tournaments although they are wearing Islamic clothes.

What a surprise that a Muslim male would say such a thing.:rollseyes

[NJUSA]

What a surprise that a Muslim male would say such a thing.:rollseyes

Here's a Muslim, saying something you may not expect:
(whips out pom-poms and noisemakers)
Go Iran! Iran for the Gold! Sisters are doing it for themselves! Go Iran!

[Pure]

hahahahaha

end the stereotypes, they are wearing comfortable and loose clothes to play the sport. You do not need to bare arms and legs to play better. In fact, they are protected from the sun's beating rays, and most importantly, blessing from above for their modesty :statisfie

[family]

its interesting to know this, but are they allow to do this ? The gov't?
Wasalaam

[Pure]

This is an all-female, all-Arab Olympic

http://www2.hu-berlin.de/sexology/IES/iran.html

Faezeh Hashemi, the Iranian President’s oldest daughter, has become the chief spokeswoman for the emerging women’s movement. In 1993, the 31-year-old former volleyball coach organized the first Islamic Women’s Olympics in Teheran in 1993. “Our goal was to give women a sense of self-confidence,” Ms. Hashemi announced. “In most of the Islamic world, women have cultural problems. They are regarded as a commodity. For Iranian women, the values have changed.” She does not see restrictions such as wearing the chador as necessarily impeding a woman’s career.

[NJUSA]

This is an all-female, all-Arab Olympic

http://www2.hu-berlin.de/sexology/IES/iran.html

Faezeh Hashemi, the Iranian President’s oldest daughter, has become the chief spokeswoman for the emerging women’s movement. In 1993, the 31-year-old former volleyball coach organized the first Islamic Women’s Olympics in Teheran in 1993. “Our goal was to give women a sense of self-confidence,” Ms. Hashemi announced. “In most of the Islamic world, women have cultural problems. They are regarded as a commodity. For Iranian women, the values have changed.” She does not see restrictions such as wearing the chador as necessarily impeding a woman’s career.

All- Arab? Iranians aren't Arabs. Most Muslims in the world today are Asian or African. I do hope that when these events are organized, Muslim women of all ethnicities are welcomed. I'd like to see an all-faith Women's Olympics, because it would be lovely to see women getting to show their prowess without fears of violating modesty, and women could connect on more than just where to find a good sports bra.

[glo]

Greetings and peace Pure,

You just have to admire their dedication to the sport and what they have achieved; compared to other countries they have to face a lot of restrictions. Just imagine what a handicap it must be to wear all those clothes, it must slow them down, maybe they are getting a little extra help from up above to compensate?:)

Take care

Eric

Good point, Eric. :)

But given this was the West Asian Women's Football Championships, are all participants likely to have worn a similar attire? I don't know.

Peace.

[Pure]

It's awesome that you guyz are patienate for women to have their sports :)

An All Muslim Womens' Soccer league is awesome.. and the criteria is a modest dress. This is a dream for a Muslim women, because if I would join any sports team, I wish to dress modestly.

[glo]

I had assumed that the women were playing football in full Muslim dress.
According to this article in the bbc I was mistaken:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/mid...st/4511680.stm

No men are allowed inside the sports arenas at this event, which means that Muslim women can take off their Islamic covering - the hijab - and compete in shorts and t-shirt.

The ban on women appearing in public without their hijab is so strict in Iran that photos are not allowed in case a man sees them.

Apparently, the Iranian team is very professional:

The Iranian squad were a real national team. Supported by the government, they trained intensively to the point of obsession.

Their coach is Brazilian - their skills, fitness and team play absolutely breathtaking. Other teams in the tournament struggled to give them a match at all.

See link for the full article. :)

Peace.

[catmando]

Well this is a start, but certainly women's sports suffers because no photos are allowed, and no men are allowed to watch. One day the double standard will cease. I'm watching Iran-Mexico now and Iran just scored for 1-1 tie.

Nadal beat Federer for the French Open title.

[Pure]

yes.. thanks for posting that article!! I actually saw that one recently and I was thinking of posting it..

here's another good one: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/1933713.stm