Iran women to attend football matches
TEHRAN 22 Sep (ANA) - Women in Iran will be able to attend football matches, starting with a World Cup qualifier next month, according to football's world governing body, Fifa.
Fifa president Gianni Infantino said he discussed the issue with the Iranian authorities after the death of a female fan earlier this month.
Mr Infantino said they assured him that women would be allowed into matches.
Women have effectively been banned from stadiums where men are playing since just after the 1979 Islamic revolution.
Earlier this month, football fan Sahar Khodayari died after being arrested for trying to go to a match disguised as a man.
Ms Khodayari, also known as the "blue girl" after the colours of her favourite team Esteqlal, feared she would be jailed. She set herself on fire outside the court and died a week later in hospital.
Her death caused widespread grief and outrage, both within and outside Iran.
Football players and fans around the world have also been paying tribute to Ms Khodayari. Footballers from some European women's teams have been wearing blue armbands during matches, in her memory.
Fifa itself has faced growing criticism, with people calling for the body to suspend or ban Iran's football federation.(ANA)
FA/ANA/22 September 2019-----