Please see HERE

Turkey’s state minister vetoed the holding of Islamic Olympics. The main reason behind this decision is the controversy of Hijab that will damage turkey’s image in becoming part of European union. Islamic Games were held in Saudi Arabia in 2005 and will be hosted by Iran in 2009.

.......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.

........Before the election results were announced, everyone assumed that Shojaaie doesn’t have any chances considering Sepanji’s years of experience as the deputy manager in women’s affair at football federation. Before the ballots were counted Sepanji who was so sure of her reelection told the reporters that she will held a news conference after the election to announce her plans for her new term in the office. Many were sure of Sepanji’s reelection especially after the rumors regarding the Athletic Education Organization’s disapproval of Shojaaie’s candidacy.

But at the end Shojaaie, the current golf federation deputy manager in women’s affair won the election for the football federation deputy manager in the women’s affair. Many say that she won the election mostly due to her husband’s reputation in football world; Mansour Pour-Heidari is the former coach of the national team and Esteghlal football team. Shojaaie won the election with 51 votes compare to the 15 votes that Sepanji got, an unbelievably low number for Sepanji. There was one white ballot also.

Shojaaie: “I entered the race because I love football”

It seams that with her new position Shojaaie have to quite her other job as the deputy manager in golf federation. So far she has kept quite about the matter. After the election Shojaaie told Shirzanan: “ I entered the race because I love football. I was a football player before the revolution. My husband, Mansour Pour-Heidari, is a football coach. My whole life is around this sport that’s why I always wanted to work in this field.” The newly elected deputy manager layout her plans as: “I am considering to create an atmosphere friendly for all ages, juniors and seniors (elders). The first priorities for me are organizing for new leagues and having more coaching and referee classes in Tehran and other provinces. With the credit that football federation gives to women’s football we can do good.”

Sepanji is not available

Although couple of days has passed the Election Day there is still no news of Khadijeh Sepanji. Her cell phone is off and it seems she could not bare her defeat. When she was leaving the meeting on Election Day she told reporters that she wishes Shojaaie a successful term.