3/3/2006
Afshin, Afshar, lastkick.com

Once again female Iranian football fans were denied access to the Azadi Stadium. This time it was for the game against Costa Rica.

Furthermore, reports and pictures suggest that certain members of the security forces took it upon themselves to physically attack a number of the female fans who were peacefully protesting in front of the stadium and demanding their rights to enter. These fans were beaten and then arrested.

The question is why? Why should the female fans be denied access? Why should they be beaten up by these rogue members of the security forces and then arrested? Why can’t the Iranian football authorities make arrangements that meet the state requirements for accommodating all the football fans regardless of gender? Why don’t the authorities punish the brutal behavior of these security guards? And why don’t the Iranian newspapers, especially the sports dailies, all 16 of them, speak out on behalf of the female fans?

A few months ago, a male reporter was beaten up in the very same stadium. All the sports dailies were quick to report the incident and demand an investigation. The authorities responded and the violator was singled out. Why not do the same now? Is there really a difference here?

Some say there are concerns that some male fans my not “behave properly” in the presence of the female fans. So I ask you this, shouldn’t it be them who are punished for misbehaving?

Perhaps it should be the misbehaving male football fans that should be banned from the stadiums unless they learn to “behave” in presence of their female counterparts.

If the Iranian Football Federation is not willing to accommodate these fans then FIFA should interfere. FIFA is a nonpolitical sports organization. But I submit that this is a not a political issue. It is a football issue. It has to do with fans’ right to see and support their national teams in their stadiums.

Perhaps FIFA should only sanction international games in countries that can accommodate all of their fans’ right to attend the games.

Perhaps other football federations should make it their policy that they will only travel to countries in which half the population is not banned from entering football stadiums.

Again, this is a football, and not political, issue. All those involved in the game can and should support these fans in their quest to gain this very basic right.