Lausanne (AFP)
A Fifa delegation is going to visit Iran soon "to evaluate the preparations" to allow supporters to attend a qualifying match for the Iran-Cambodia 2022 World Cup in October. Wednesday learned from the International Federation.
"A delegation from FIFA will be on site shortly to assess the preparations to allow women to attend the stadium in the next qualifying match for the World Cup in October," said FIFA to AFP.
According to a source close, this delegation that will meet the Iranian Football Federation, will be composed of three people, representing in particular the Department of competitions of Fifa and that of security.
The visit comes as the Iranian judiciary announced Tuesday that it would investigate the death of a football supporter, reports of the immolation by fire of the young woman, nicknamed the "blue girl", before a court last week.
The young woman, 30-year-old Sahar Khodayari, was arrested last year while trying to enter a stadium disguised as a man to watch a match of her favorite team, Tehran's Esteghlal FC, according to the news website Varzesh3 sporting, quoting his sister.
Nicknamed "The Blue Girl", in reference to Esteghlal's colors, Sahar Khodayari set herself on fire at the entrance of a court in Tehran last week after hearing that she would spend six months in prison , according to Varzesh3.
The Iranian Sports Ministry announced at the end of August that supporters would be allowed to attend this meeting between Iran and Cambodia.
Fifa had increased its pressure on Iran to allow the country to allow women to attend the qualifying matches for the 2022 World Cup and had given the country until the end of August to comply with this requirement, under penalty consequences.
In Iran, women have been banned from stadiums since the Islamic Revolution in 1979, with religious leaders arguing that they need to be protected from the "masculine atmosphere" and "half-naked men".
The authorities have, however, repeatedly allowed women in the stadiums in the past.
While a small number of women have been able to attend international meetings, others have been prosecuted for entering a stadium outside of these opportunities.
© 2019 AFP