.

UPDATE (May 27) – During Team Melli’s practices in their Tehran camp, many women had to watch from behind a fence surrounding the training field, because they were not allowed to enter the stadium and watch from the stands.

UPDATE (May 8 ) – Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, vetoed the president and ruled out the possibility of women’s presence in the sports arenas.

UPDATE (May 1) – In what may be considered a setback, a number of Iranian clerics released statements opposing Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s comments in support of women attending sports events.

UPDATE (April 26) - As you may know there has been some encouraging news in this regard. However, until Iranian women are actually allowed to attend we encourage you to sign this petition if you have not already.

Iranian women are not allowed to attend football games in Iran. The reason, as put by the Iranian Football Federation (IRIFF), is that the behavior of the male football fans in the stadiums may make it unsuitable for women to attend.

Earlier this year a number of female fans who wanted to attend a Team Melli friendly were physically attacked and then arrested by security guards outside of the stadium. We condemn these illegal acts of violence and ask the authorities to look into the matter and punish the violators. Furthermore, we are asking IRIFF to make it possible for Iranian women to attend the games.

Iranian Football Federation has the means to address the obstacles and we are petitioning them to do so. If you wish to support this effort please click here to sign the petition.

To read other readers' comments click here.