This piece highlights a country under strain as it confronts the murder of Mahsa Amini and the broader fight for women’s rights. While many camps have been emptied, the courage of the people around them remains a powerful resistance against the Ayatollah regime. Some players have lost their lives, others face long prison sentences, clubs feel pressure, and fans find themselves targeted.
The struggle is not accidental. A bold stand for women’s rights has echoed across football fields. Before the current crisis, the Open Stadiums platform achieved a significant breakthrough: for the first time in four decades, a woman attended a local league match. The initiative also offered fans access to national team duels, despite enduring bureaucratic restrictions, reduced seating, and harsh controls rooted in decades of political upheaval since the 1979 revolution.
deportation from Iran
A generation lives in hiding, supports street protests, and engages in activism on the road to protest, exile, and sometimes death. In the run-up to the World Cup in Qatar, Open Stadiums addressed FIFA president Gianni Infantino, demanding the expulsion of Iran from the event. “Why give a global stage to a regime that denies human rights, tortures, and kills its own people?” The message circulated widely.
As Iranian football fans interacted with FIFA, a discussion about representation and policy intensified. The Open Stadiums campaign highlighted the tension surrounding women’s access to stadiums and the broader human rights context. An open letter circulated alongside social media activity, challenging the ban and urging change.
Did there ever come a reply? “No,” was the blunt response reported by El Periódico de España from the Prensa Ibérica group. The organization has a history of operating with anonymity, tracing back to a campaign launched in 2005 and later formalized as Open Stadiums in 2013, touching on changes sparked by high-profile visits to Iran.
Officials cited concerns about safety and propriety, stating that women’s entry to stadiums was not appropriate, as if a woman’s presence itself could be a clue. International action followed, including warnings about possible bans, while social networks remained limited and some outreach relied on traditional channels like faxes. The effort represented a quiet, persistent struggle with little visible support at times.
referees were censored
Anonymous and often in danger, activists faced regular harassment from the regime. Some had to flee the country to escape oppression. Recently, Iranian international referee Aso Javaheri announced retirement after years of pressure related to the hijab requirement. In August 2022, Mahsa Ghorbani was removed from university listings for not wearing long pants.
Aso Javaheri,
An Iranian woman who worked as a football referee was dismissed by the arbitration committee when her doctoral research on gender gaps in sports and the political economy of the sector touched sensitive topics in Iran. The incident and its coverage drew attention to the broader climate confronting women in sport.
For the Open Stadiums activist, one goal remained clear: to attend a football match, a move seen as a beacon of change in a country that once barred women completely from stadiums. The 1979 revolution introduced new rules that restricted women’s participation, a shift that endured for years until recent reforms slowly opened space for women to attend games.
Documentation of these moments appears in this documentary, including a girl dressed as a man who was stopped at the stadium by a public figure, Jafar Panahi. Though fictional, the film draws on real experiences shared by members. One account recalls a summer day in 2009 when security was less aggressive, and activists were briefly allowed to watch a game before being released.
In September 2019, a young supporter attempted to reach a match between Esteghlal Tehran and its rival by disguising herself as a man. She was arrested and charged with an act deemed sinful, a charge used to suppress dissent. Known as the ‘girl in blue’ for her club colors, she became a symbol of defiance after choosing to act on principle.
death of a fan
The fan’s death at a hospital after sustaining severe injuries sparked international concern from Amnesty International and Human Rights groups, who urged FIFA to lift bans on women in stadiums. In response, the federation began allowing some female attendance at World Cup qualifying matches, and a year later a match against Portugal saw a broader, though still cautious, opening. Open Stadiums activists expressed gratitude for the chance to witness a landmark moment, while acknowledging the ongoing challenges that remain.
This figure, Sahar Khodayari, aged 29, became a poignant emblem of resistance. Known in the stands as the Blue Girl, she wore blue to support Esteghlal FC and paid with her life after protesting the restrictions that kept women from arenas. Her story circulated widely on social media and in public discourse, becoming a living symbol of the fight for equality in sports.
The regime’s response to dissent continued to be harsh, but the opening of some venues in 2022 signaled a shift. For the first time in decades, women could attend AFC Champions League events in Tehran, a milestone celebrated by supporters who had long waited for such access. These moments underscored the complicated relationship between sport, politics, and gender rights in Iran. The ensuing years showed that opening arenas did not erase the underlying tensions, and the state still guarded control over public spaces and expression.
In the ‘free’ state
A turning point arrived when FIFA pressed for inclusion of women and girls in football events. The Sports and Youth Ministry acknowledged the message from Infantino and proceeded to lift certain restrictions, enabling select matches to feature female spectators at Azadi Stadium. Supporters who had long endured barriers celebrated the moment, though limits persisted, and entry remained tightly managed.
At the same time, some fans recalled Sahar Khodayari with a mix of pride and sorrow, as crowds gathered for glimpses of women in the stands. The atmosphere at the Esteghlal and Sanat Mes Kerman match was described as a cautious triumph, set against caution about safety constraints and ongoing monitoring. Ticket distribution remained selective and controlled, and authorities continued to enforce hijab expectations and security protocols during games.
As August drew to a close, the stadiums hosted more events, with arrangements that combined security measures and ceremonial openings. Supporters traveled across the country, sometimes requiring organized transport, sometimes arriving by car or bus. The moment carried a sense of possibility, even as many faces remained wary of future crackdowns. The public mood balanced the joy of access with the memory of intense repression.
Historic moments were captured in social posts and broadcasts from supporters, reflecting the fragile gains that accompanied ongoing battles for representation and basic rights in sports. The narrative remained a reminder that sport can echo broader social struggles, and that the fight for inclusion continues beyond the stands.
The national team’s participation in major events, including the World Cup in Qatar, carried mixed reactions. Some fans praised the players for showing courage amid political pressure, while others criticized any perceived absence of protest or alignment with the regime. The environment abroad remained tense, with reports of security concerns and the difficult reality that players and supporters faced when expressing dissent. Open Stadiums and similar groups continued to document these tensions, underscoring how stadiums can reflect the wider struggle for democracy and dignity in Iran.