Iran release women trying to watch game

By Richard Cooke

Image: The women tried to attend a match at the Azadi Stadium

Thirty five women arrested for trying to attend a football match in Iran on Thursday have all been released.

The women attempted to watch the Tehran derby between Esteghlal and Persepolis at the 95,000-capacity Azadi (Freedom) Stadium.

They were prevented from entering the ground and held by the authorities because Iranian women are not allowed to watch men's football matches in Iran.

The group was spotted even though some of them were dressed as men. One of them is only 13-years-old.

FIFA general president Gianni Infantino has been criticised for attending the 'men-only' game.

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He was on a two-day visit to the country to take part in a ceremony to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Iran's football federation.

Image: Gianni Infantino posed for a picture with Iran's Minister of Sport and Youth Masoud Soltanifar

Infantino, who spoke at FIFA's Equality & Inclusion conference in Zurich on Friday, told reporters in Iran he wants to do something for Iranian women, especially as he has four daughters.

He has the power to suspend the Iranian Football Federation and prevent Iran from taking part in the World Cup if the ban on women attending matches is not lifted.

OpenStadiums - a movement of Iranian women - has written an open letter to Infantino calling on him to use his power and influence to end the ban.

FIFA technical director Marco Van Basten, who was also in Iran, said the sanction should be lifted.

Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter called the ban "intolerable" in 2015, urging Iran to open up its football stadiums to women.

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