Men United For Iranian Women

GOAL - Football is not just a sport. Football is a way of life. In most countries, among most nations, men and women, young and old, football is a source of inspiration and a fountain of passion.
It is a game that you and I play and so does he and she. It blossoms to an event that you and I watch and enjoy and so does he and so should she.

It is a bridge that connects hearts and minds wherever you are; we are.

It is one that makes us think as one people and one nation excited to cheer for our team and our men and our women.

Football is the common denominator for all Iranians in Iran and abroad and from all socio-economical segments of society. It is a game that unites.

The debate over whether women should be allowed to enter stadiums to watch football and watch their national team play has a fundamental flaw. The premise of this argument assumes that there is a question about this natural right of any person, regardless of gender to enter a stadium and watch a match.

There is “no question” about it. It is said that the stadiums’ atmosphere in Iran are not suitable for women to enter. …then let’s address that issue. If the outrageous argument is that “we have such deeply rooted cultural problems that can not handle men and women in the same stadium”, then fix that problem.

Mankind has the will to land on a planet many moons away. We have the means to supply energy for a large percentage of the world. We have the will to run faster, fly higher, go further and reach more audience with the latest technologies.

We surely should have the will to solve a much smaller scale problem of allowing men and women sitting in a stadium watching a match, peacefully and respectfully…that is if there is “will” to do that.

What took place following the Iran – Costa Rica match is wrong. Not allowing women to enter the Azadi stadium to watch the match was wrong and the subsequent violence against those women who attempted to attend was “more wrong,” is “very wrong”.

Women are not just a different gender. They are our sisters, mothers, wives and daughters. Beating them and hurting them because they attempted to join a sporting event and watch and celebrate their national team is beating and hurting the sole of a nation.

It is violating our soul, mine and yours. We pick and choose when to speak and when to hold back. This is one issue that as a sporting community we need to speak about. Every “baby step” toward solving this issue is a major step toward dealing with this problem.

Just like how we turn into “one people” when our national team plays on the world football stage, we need to turn into “one community” to condemn the acts of violence and demand for equal treatment of women in viewing and playing sports.

Football is not just a sport. It provides joy, excitement and at times, heartbreaks. …And the joy, excitement and heartbreak of this beautiful game are for you and me, and him and should also be for her.

It is that simple!

Kaveh Mahjoob

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