Prior to a friendly last week, members of the national team covered the national crest with black jackets to show support for the country’s oppression of women.
The rights organisation Open Stadiums has urged FIFA to disqualify Iran from the November 2022 World Cup championships in Qatar due to the nation’s treatment of women.
In a letter to FIFA president Gianni Infantino on Thursday, the organisation complained that despite pressure from the body controlling the sport, Iranian officials continued to bar female supporters from entering the country to attend matches.
The Iranian FA is more than just a collaborator in the crimes committed by the regime. It poses a direct risk to the safety of female supporters of our national team both in Iran and abroad. For all of us, football ought to be a secure environment.
Because of this, as Iranian football fans, we must express our deepest concern on Iran’s participation in the 2017 FIFA World Cup.
“Why would FIFA allow the Iranian regime and its officials a platform on the international scene when it not only disregards fundamental human rights and dignity but also currently kills and tortures its own citizens?”
Therefore, we request that FIFA immediately ban Iran from the Qatar-hosted World Cup 2022 in accordance with Articles 3 and 4 of its laws.
The mentioned articles discuss human rights and the prohibition of discrimination on the basis of gender, race, religion, and other factors; violations are sanctioned by suspension or expulsion from the international organisation.
The appeal comes as protests against the death of young woman Mahsa Amini in police custody continued in various towns across Iran on Thursday, state television and social media reported, and a human rights group said at least 83 people have been killed in nearly two weeks of rallies.
The turmoil, according to Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, is the most recent in a string of hostile Western actions against Iran since the Islamic revolution of 1979.
Over the past ten years, Open Stadiums has waged a largely unsuccessful fight to allow women to watch football matches in Iran.
A few female supporters were allowed entry to Persepolis’ home leg of the Asian Champions League final in Tehran as a result of Infantino’s persuasion.
However, little progress has been made since, with female supporters being denied entry to Iran’s World Cup qualifying match against Lebanon in Mashad in March and footage showing them being pepper sprayed outside the stadium.
During the most recent international break, the national side under Carlos Queiroz played friendlies in Austria against Uruguay and Senegal; both games were played behind closed doors due to security concerns.
