Iran Welcomes 45,000 Women to Stadium in a Historic Match

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has praised Iran for allowing women to attend football matches. This happened during a match between Sepahan and Persepolis in Iran's Persian Gulf Pro League earlier this week.

In 2022, FIFA suspended Iran's Football Federation due to gender equality violations. Infantino worked closely with Iranian authorities to resolve the issue. Earlier this year, a match between the same teams banned women, leading to fines and a requirement for the teams to play before only women fans in their next encounter.

This latest match saw women as the only audience, with over 45,000 attending. Infantino appreciated the decision, calling it a hopeful step toward inclusion. He said,

Infantino also noted that since last year, when 3,000 women attended a Persepolis vs. Esteghlal match, the number has significantly grown. He emphasized the need to make this change permanent so women can freely attend games.