Professional footballer in Iran: hugging a woman brings trouble!

Professional footballer in Iran: hugging a woman brings trouble!

An outcry in Iranian football: prominent Esteghlal player Ramin Resaeian was cited by the football association's ethics committee after hugging a female fan. This incident occurred shortly before the game against Chadormalu in Yazd, central Iran, as reported by the Tasnim news agency. The 34-year-old defender, who has played more than 60 games for the Iranian national team, now faces the country's strict regulations banning any physical contact between women and men who are not related in the wake of the 1979 Islamic Revolution. The Football Association has not yet commented on this incident, but this is not the first incident of its kind.

Repeat of a controversial incident

Back in April, Esteghlal goalkeeper Hossein Hosseini was suspended after he also hugged a female fan. In this case, the association imposed a fine of the equivalent of 4,400 euros for “poor treatment of the security officers”. These strict regulations are still in line with Islamic law, which only allowed women to relax in stadium attendance in 2022.

The incidents shed light on the ongoing challenges and contradictions within Iranian sport. While women are now allowed to attend games, the interactive relationship between players and female fans remains limited. The ban on physical contact in non-related relationships shapes the country's social and sporting climate, making the consequences for Resaeian and his colleagues uncertain.