Iranian women challenge soccer ban

Iranian women challenge soccer ban (6/6/2005)
Taken from www.islamonline.com

A group of Iranian women challenged a ban on women’s attendance at football matches when they attended their national team's Group B Asian zone 2006 World Cup qualifier against North Korea.

The women have been allowed to attend Friday's match at Tehran's Azadi stadium after petitioning the Iranian Football Federation.

"I think the atmosphere is very good," said Ms. Ardalan, as Iran labored to a 1-0 victory that left the national team on the verge of qualifying for next year's World Cup.

"Women should be allowed to be present at matches to calm down the atmosphere. If the men saw that their sisters were sitting nearby they would behave better and not shout and curse."

Ms. Ardalan, a physical education student, is the daughter of a former international goalkeeper. She is considered the best female player in Iran, and once scored 23 goals in an international Islamic women's indoor five-a-side tournament.

But despite her achievements, last Friday's tie between Iran and North Korea was the first men's match Ms. Ardalan, 20, had been allowed to attend.

"This is just the beginning of our people having a new culture and getting used to women coming into stadiums," said Elaheh Moladoast, 27, a referee in the women's league.

"We are defending our rights as women to come and watch rather than sitting at home and watching on television. There should be no limitations," she added.

Iran’s ban on women’s attendance at football matches has been a hot issue in this month’s presidential elections. The frontrunner, Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, said that wants to lift the ban.

Ms. Ardalan said Rafsanjani's promise could be a vote winner. "Many young women in Iran are in love with football but they are frustrated that they cannot come to watch."