.......In the course of these classes Iranian women had the opportunity of watching football matches among women’s teams from Singapore, India and Korea in FIFA. After this group of Iranian women coaches returned from its classes the authorities decided to form women’s football teams in some football clubs. Taaj Club – currently Esteghlal Club, was the first to form training classes for women’s football. After that other clubs such as Persepolis, Dayhiem and Oghab formed their own classes for women in football; the same happened in smaller cities all over the country.

Batoul Bagheri, one of the oldest football players from Bandar-e Anzaly says: “ In 1970, after a lot of works and meetings we could found an official place for our practices. Previous to that we used to play in the gritty grounds of a street corner along with our husbands and brothers. In 1970 we were officially allowed to play without any men but in the same field. At first we had many troubles caused by men; they could not see us playing for ourselves. These kind of problems were more in smaller cities.”

With all difficulty and because of the increasing number of women interested in football Iran football federation decided to form a women’s national football team. The first women’s national football team was founded in 1978, but because of the unstable political situation in Iran – one year prior to the Islamic Revolution of 1979- women’s football in Iran got totally forgotten about. 13 years later, at the end of 1992, by Al-Zahra University women’s Futsal (Indoor Football) tournament, women’s football partially revived; Before President Khatami’s election, and despite the many efforts of Faezeh Hashemi (a member or Iranian Parliament) women were only allowed to play Futsal in Iran. After Khatami’s election, and in the more politically and socially open society women’s sport became more and more independent and the same goes for women’s football; A new women’s football team was formed and stared its practices for international competitions.

After the Athletic Education Organization combined women’s sports with men’s a administrative position was made in every single athletic federation in Iran, that was called the Deputy Manager in women’s affair. This new administrative post made everything more productive. Many sport specialists believe that women’s sports in Iran started to grow rapidly after this change. In 2005, Iran Women’s national football team had its first appearance in international fields for Asian women’ football championships. They became second in that tournament. Also 2007 was a very good year for Iran women’s football; they passed the primary games in women’s football Asian cup and they are going up to the next level.

This will be the first serious experience for Iran women’s football. However these days many are worried for the women’s national football team especially after the administrative changes in Iran football federation and the absence of Khadijeh Sepanji from the federation. The critics believe that after Sepanji many others will be changed and that will produce more problems. At any rate we should wait to see what would be happen to Iranian women’s football, with 38 years of experience; and if they can be successful in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup.