Women Allowed to Attend Asian Champions League Final in Tehran (PHOTO)

About 100 women were permitted to watch a friendly match between Iran and Bolivia last month, but the restrictions were soon restored.
Sputnik

More than 1,000 Iranian women have attended the Asia Champions League final in Tehran, according to FIFA estimations.

The game took place at Tehran's Azadi Stadium at 18:30 local time (15:00 GMT) between Iran's Persepolis and Japan's Kashima Antlers football clubs (0-2).

FIFA's president, Gianni Infantino, along with Iranian Sports Minister Masoud Soltanifar attended the match as well.

"I was delighted to personally witness that, for the first time in 40 years, Iranian female football fans were allowed to attend an official match again," Infantino said in a statement on FIFA website. "The fact that over 1,000 women could cheer their favourite team and that this took place during Asian football’s most important game of the season, the AFC Champions League finale, makes this occasion even more special."

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Iran's law banning women from attending football stadiums was introduced after the 1979 Islamic Revolution, as the idea of men and women watching football games together was considered un-Islamic.

The 2019 Asian Cup will be held in the United Arab Emirates from 5 January to 1 February 2019.

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