The Football Federation of Iran has summoned Ramin Rezaeian, a prominent player for Tehran's Esteghlal team and a former regular member of Iran’s national team.
The summons comes after Rezaeian was seen embracing a female fan before a domestic league match against Chadormalou in the central province of Yazd.
The incident, reported by the Tasnim news agency on Friday, December 27, highlights ongoing tensions regarding women's participation in sports events in Iran. Under the Islamic law enforced since the 1979 revolution, physical contact between unrelated men and women is strictly prohibited.
This regulation has historically restricted women's access to football stadiums, although they were allowed to attend a domestic championship match in August 2022 for the first time in over four decades. Rezaeian, aged 34, encountered the female supporter while players were being transported on a bus.
The ethics committee of the Football Federation of Iran has demanded that he "explain the incident to the committee," as reported by local media.
This move shows the official unease surrounding female spectators at football matches, despite recent relaxations in attendance policies.
This is not the first instance of disciplinary action within Iranian football over similar incidents.
In April, Esteghlal's captain, Hossein Hosseini, faced suspension and a fine of approximately $4,700 after a female fan rushed onto the pitch and embraced him to avoid arrest for not wearing a hijab. Such incidents have fueled discussions about the broader issue of women's rights and their access to public spaces in Iran.
The case of Ramin Rezaeian is particularly given his extensive career, which includes over 60 caps for the national team and stints with clubs in Qatar and Belgium.
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