Women's football in Iran
Encyclopedia
Association football in Iran
is very popular. Football has been a part of life for Iranians for many decades now and is played in schools, alleys, streets and football clubs nationwide. Women in Iran
are increasingly inclined to play football
, and with this increasing popularity it is only a matter of time before a more secure infrastructure develops. The Iran women's national football team
competes internationally.
's training courses in Japan
, they observed the Japan women's national football team
's games against female teams from Korea
, Singapore
and India
. That was the stimulus to the administrators of women’s football in Iran. Since 1970 serious measures were made in order to reach appropriate standards. Taj
was the first club to train women. Thereafter, women took part first in football training and then in football teams such as Taj, Deyhim, Persepolis FC
, Oghab FC
and Khasram. By organizing different competitions between those teams, the best players were selected and placed in the first Iranian women's national team. This team was composed of former volleyball
players, basketball
players and athletes aged from 12 to 18. They started to train more seriously as sport magazine published the news of their progress, then gradually a huge number of female fans arose to support the team. With the help of educational institutions across the country, talented youngsters were scouted. As time went on, teams were selected, and eventually in 1971 a competition was organised by a women's sport magazine and the travel company Scandinavian Airlines System
(S.A.S) under the supervision of the Football Federation
, for that occasion the Italy women's national football team
was invited to Iran
and had two games against Taj and a team called Tehran in the Amjadieh stadium
. Women's football continued to grow until the Iranian revolution
in 1979.
, in the shape of futsal
, a form of indoor football, started by Alzahra University
. At first it faced the refusal by the sport's administration, however because of the passion shown by the students towards football
, the university
changed the law and the first unofficial female competition was organized since the Iranian revolution
. In this competition 10 teams participated, most of them belong to Alzahra University
and the rest were from other national universities
. Women's football activity continued to grow until finally, in 1997 the physical education organization formed a women's futsal committee and since then officially sport clubs have begun to encourage women's futsal teams in Iran
.
Since 2001 the first national female students' competition was officially organised under the supervision of the ministry of education, research and technology in Alzahra University
. This competition was made by 12 teams from different universities.
In 2004 subsequent efforts were not made to provide facilities for women. Occasionally female teams train with the Islamic veil
in stadiums in small groups on good quality pitches. An attempt has also been made to allow women into stadiums at the same time as men. But up to now women football players have never trained on pitches of good quality. Nowadays only indoor facilities are accessible to women footballers. Until 2005 many competitions have been organized with the participation of foreign teams.
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
is very popular. Football has been a part of life for Iranians for many decades now and is played in schools, alleys, streets and football clubs nationwide. Women in Iran
Women in Iran
Iranian women in this article refers to women of, or from, traditional Persian or modern Iranian culture.-Depictions and appearance:...
are increasingly inclined to play football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
, and with this increasing popularity it is only a matter of time before a more secure infrastructure develops. The Iran women's national football team
Iran women's national football team
The Iran women's national football team represents Iran in international women's football, and is controlled by Islamic Republic of Iran Football Federation...
competes internationally.
History
Women's football in Iran started in 1970. Women had the personal ambition of participating in male football competitions in alleys and streets, so they took part in some men's football games. During that time, when numerous trainers participated in the top grade of FIFAFIFA
The Fédération Internationale de Football Association , commonly known by the acronym FIFA , is the international governing body of :association football, futsal and beach football. Its headquarters are located in Zurich, Switzerland, and its president is Sepp Blatter, who is in his fourth...
's training courses in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, they observed the Japan women's national football team
Japan women's national football team
The Japan women's national football team, or Nadeshiko Japan , is a selection of the best female players in Japan and is run by the Japan Football Association . Japan defeated the U.S...
's games against female teams from Korea
Korea Republic women's national football team
The South Korea national women's football team represents South Korea in international Women's football competitions. The team is recognised as Korea Republic by FIFA...
, Singapore
Singapore women's national football team
Women's football in Singapore is becoming more popular since the Football Association of Singapore took women’s football under its wing in 2000. A Women’s Football Division was set up with the FAS in September 2004....
and India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. That was the stimulus to the administrators of women’s football in Iran. Since 1970 serious measures were made in order to reach appropriate standards. Taj
Esteghlal FC
Esteghlal Cultural and Athletic Club is an Iranian sports club most widely known for its professional football team based in Tehran. It was founded as Taj , meaning 'Crown' in Persian and renamed after the Islamic Revoloution in 1979...
was the first club to train women. Thereafter, women took part first in football training and then in football teams such as Taj, Deyhim, Persepolis FC
Persepolis FC
Persepolis Football Club is an Iranian football club based in Tehran. Persepolis F.C. is the football club of the multisport Persepolis Athletic and Cultural Club....
, Oghab FC
Oghab FC
Oghab Tehran Football Club is an Iranian football team based in Tehran, Iran. They currently compete in the 2011–12 Iran Football's 3rd Division.-History:...
and Khasram. By organizing different competitions between those teams, the best players were selected and placed in the first Iranian women's national team. This team was composed of former volleyball
Volleyball
Volleyball is a team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by a net. Each team tries to score points by grounding a ball on the other team's court under organized rules.The complete rules are extensive...
players, basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
players and athletes aged from 12 to 18. They started to train more seriously as sport magazine published the news of their progress, then gradually a huge number of female fans arose to support the team. With the help of educational institutions across the country, talented youngsters were scouted. As time went on, teams were selected, and eventually in 1971 a competition was organised by a women's sport magazine and the travel company Scandinavian Airlines System
Scandinavian Airlines System
Scandinavian Airlines or SAS, previously Scandinavian Airlines System, is the flag carrier of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, and the largest airline in Scandinavia....
(S.A.S) under the supervision of the Football Federation
Islamic Republic of Iran Football Federation
The Football Federation of the Islamic Republic of Iran ' is the governing body for football in Iran. It was founded in 1920, and has been a member of FIFA since 1945. It is also a member of the Asian Football Confederation...
, for that occasion the Italy women's national football team
Italy women's national football team
The Italy women's national football team represents Italy in international women's football. The team is controlled by the Italian Football Federation .- Performances in the World Cup :...
was invited to Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
and had two games against Taj and a team called Tehran in the Amjadieh stadium
Shahid Shiroudi Stadium
The Shahid Shiroudi Stadium is a sports stadium in Tehran, Iran, currently used only for Athletic competitions. Until 2009 it was used mostly for football matches....
. Women's football continued to grow until the Iranian revolution
Iranian Revolution
The Iranian Revolution refers to events involving the overthrow of Iran's monarchy under Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and its replacement with an Islamic republic under Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the leader of the...
in 1979.
Recent
In 1993 a rebound was made for women's football in IranIran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
, in the shape of futsal
Futsal
Futsal is a variant of association football that is played on a smaller pitch and mainly played indoors. Its name is a portmanteau of the Portuguese futebol de salão and the Spanish fútbol de salón , which can be translated as "hall football" or "indoor football"...
, a form of indoor football, started by Alzahra University
Alzahra University
Alzahra University is a female-only state-run university in Vanak, Tehran, Tehran Province, Iran.Founded in 1964 as a private institution under title of The Higher Educational Institute For Girls , it was renamed Farah Pahlavi University after empress Farah Pahlavi, the wife of Muhammad Reza Pahlavi...
. At first it faced the refusal by the sport's administration, however because of the passion shown by the students towards football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
, the university
Alzahra University
Alzahra University is a female-only state-run university in Vanak, Tehran, Tehran Province, Iran.Founded in 1964 as a private institution under title of The Higher Educational Institute For Girls , it was renamed Farah Pahlavi University after empress Farah Pahlavi, the wife of Muhammad Reza Pahlavi...
changed the law and the first unofficial female competition was organized since the Iranian revolution
Iranian Revolution
The Iranian Revolution refers to events involving the overthrow of Iran's monarchy under Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and its replacement with an Islamic republic under Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the leader of the...
. In this competition 10 teams participated, most of them belong to Alzahra University
Alzahra University
Alzahra University is a female-only state-run university in Vanak, Tehran, Tehran Province, Iran.Founded in 1964 as a private institution under title of The Higher Educational Institute For Girls , it was renamed Farah Pahlavi University after empress Farah Pahlavi, the wife of Muhammad Reza Pahlavi...
and the rest were from other national universities
Higher education in Iran
Iran has a large network of private, public, and state affiliated universities offering degrees in higher education. State-run universities of Iran are under the direct supervision of Iran's Ministry of Science, Research and Technology and Ministry of Health and Medical Education .-Pre-Islamic...
. Women's football activity continued to grow until finally, in 1997 the physical education organization formed a women's futsal committee and since then officially sport clubs have begun to encourage women's futsal teams in Iran
Futsal in Iran
Futsal in Iran is conducted under the aegis of the Futsal Commission of the Islamic Republic of Iran Football Federation. Futsal is a popular and growing sport in the country....
.
Since 2001 the first national female students' competition was officially organised under the supervision of the ministry of education, research and technology in Alzahra University
Alzahra University
Alzahra University is a female-only state-run university in Vanak, Tehran, Tehran Province, Iran.Founded in 1964 as a private institution under title of The Higher Educational Institute For Girls , it was renamed Farah Pahlavi University after empress Farah Pahlavi, the wife of Muhammad Reza Pahlavi...
. This competition was made by 12 teams from different universities.
In 2004 subsequent efforts were not made to provide facilities for women. Occasionally female teams train with the Islamic veil
Hijab
The word "hijab" or "'" refers to both the head covering traditionally worn by Muslim women and modest Muslim styles of dress in general....
in stadiums in small groups on good quality pitches. An attempt has also been made to allow women into stadiums at the same time as men. But up to now women football players have never trained on pitches of good quality. Nowadays only indoor facilities are accessible to women footballers. Until 2005 many competitions have been organized with the participation of foreign teams.
See also
- Iran women's national football teamIran women's national football teamThe Iran women's national football team represents Iran in international women's football, and is controlled by Islamic Republic of Iran Football Federation...
پاي بانوان به ورزشگاه باز شد. Iran Newspaper