A day is not like the previous one .. Thus the Iranians lived their first match in the stadiums

Jazeera Net-Tehran

The Iranian women who attended the match with their Cambodian counterpart that their sit in the stands after waiting for nearly four decades will establish an irreversible reality, especially in light of the efforts made by the government this time to achieve security.

Authorities on Thursday allowed 3,500 fans to enter the Azadi stadium in the capital Tehran to encourage the team against Cambodia in the second phase of the 2022 World Cup qualifiers in Qatar and the 2023 Asian Cup to be held in China.

A confrontation that ended with the Iranians winning 14 clean goals was a historic event, especially as many girls watched the game from behind the walls of the stadium, where they could not buy a ticket after it ran out in less than an hour because of the large turnout.

The government took the decision to allow women to enter the Azadi stadium similar to attending men's volleyball and basketball matches, but stressed the need to take measures to preserve the dignity of women in the stadiums.

"Today, one of the demands of a large segment of women, youth and civil society activists has been fulfilled. Women have entered the Azadi stadium to watch football matches," said First Vice President Ishaq Jahangiri on Twitter, praising the culture of Iranian women and men in respecting the sensitivity of another segment of society. Such steps.

For her part, Masoumeh Ibtikar, Assistant President of the Republic for Women and Family Affairs, revealed efforts that were not without many problems made by the government two years ago to enable women to attend the stadiums, and thanked everyone who contributed to the achievement of security, especially the police.

The Azadi stadium has allocated two parking spaces for the cheerleaders' cars. The Tehran municipality announced that 100 buses have taken them to the stadium, where a 150-member female police unit has taken over security and public order there.

Activists see the event as the fruit of their efforts in recent years and their demand for women's rights.

Social activist Farnaz Mulla Mohammad described the women's team's close match as "a historic victory for the struggle of Iranian women for their rights", explaining that it would not be possible to celebrate the occasion today without the welcome and support provided by some quarters.

In an interview with Al Jazeera Net, Farnaz stressed that the Iranian women will continue their struggle to obtain their full legitimate rights, describing the entry of female cheerleaders to the stadiums as one of the most basic human rights.

"I think that the efforts of Iranian women to achieve their rights have paid dividends. Today's event will pave the way for Iranians to stand for presidential elections and play an active role in politics and the administration of the country," said the supporter of Persepolis.

On the other hand, social media platforms were filled with tweets published by the Iranians who attended the game, thanking everyone who helped achieve this wish, and the videos showed the tears that poured joy as soon as the doors of the Azadi Stadium were opened to the Iranians asserting that the occasion will establish an irreversible reality.

The Iranians interacted through the websites with the presence of female citizens in the stadiums, and demanded the relevant authorities to allow them to attend the matches of the Premier League.

Although the ban on women's stadiums was lifted following FIFA's pressure on Iranian football authorities, a large segment of the street sees it as a good step, followed by steps to open the door for women to attend Iranian domestic championship matches.

Former UEFA member Yuri Djorkayev, who attended the match to monitor the authorities' commitment to allow women to enter, confirmed that the federation would continue negotiations with the Iranian side not to repeat some problems in yesterday's game.

In a statement shortly after the match, FIFA President Gianni Infantino described the presence of Iranians on the pitch as "a step forward and a moment that FIFA and Iranians have always waited for," stressing that it should not be a pause or a return from that path.