Women will be allowed to watch Ireland’s World Cup play-off against Iran in Tehran next week from inside the stadium for the first time since the 1979 Islamic revolution - but only if they are Irish.
Women are banned from Iranian soccer stadiums. Iranian authorities say this is to protect them from "bad language". Crowd noise will also be turned down on live television coverage broadcast in Iran in order not to "offend" women viewers.
"About 300 Irish women fans visiting Iran will be able to enter the stadium, but Iranian women are not allowed," an Iran soccer federation spokesman said.
"The Irish do not speak Farsi, so they will not understand the bad language which most of the Iranian men use during the matches."
Iranian women, many of them ardent soccer supporters, are unhappy about having to miss the chance to watch the second leg match, in Tehran on November 15th, from the stands. The first leg takes place in Dublin on Saturday.
"I hate this double standard. What is the difference between me and an Irish woman who can watch the game and support her national team. We should be allowed as well," said Azita, a 20-year-old Iranian woman supporter.
Iranian women were beaten and turned away from a play-off against Australia for the 1998 World Cup, which Iran won to qualify for the last finals.
The matches will be the first between Iran and Ireland since the two met in an invitational tournament in Brazil in 1972. Ireland won that game 2-1 with goals from Don Givens and Mick Leach.
About 1,000 Irish supporters are expected to travel to Iran for the second leg of the play-offs. - Reuters