 | An Irish woman dressed with Islamic coverings as required by Iranian law watches the Iran v. Ireland World Cup qualifying match at Azadi stadium in Tehran November 15, 2001. Women in Iran are not allowed to attend football matches, but an exception was made in the case of the Irish women who travelled to Iran. Iran defeated Ireland 1-0, but still did not qualify for the 2002 World Cup. | Women will be allowed to watch Iran's World Cup playoff against Ireland on 10th November from inside the stadium for the first time since the 1979 Islamic revolution -- but only if they are Irish.Women are banned from Iranian soccer stadiums to protect them from the bad language and rude gestures of male fans and crowd noise is turned down to a minimum during live television coverage to ensure women viewers at home are not offended. ``About 300 Irish women fans visiting Iran, will be able to enter the stadium, but Iranian women are not allowed,'' an Iran soccer federation spokesman told reporters. ``The Irish do not speak Farsi, so they will not understand the bad language which most of the Iranian men use during the matches.'' Iranian women, many of them ardent soccer supporters, are unhappy about having to miss the chance to watch the second leg match, in Tehran on November 15, from the stands. ``I hate this double standard. What is the difference between me and an Irish woman who can watch the game and support her national team. We should be allowed as well,'' said Azita, a 20-year-old Iranian woman supporter. Iranian women were beaten and turned away from a playoff against Australia for the 1998 World Cup, which Iran won to qualify for the last finals. The matches will be the first between Iran and Ireland since the two met in an invitational tournament in Brazil in 1972. Ireland won that game 2-1. About 1,000 Irish supporters are expected to travel to Iran for the second leg of the playoffs. (Agencies) | 11月15日伊朗和爱尔兰之间将进行2002世界杯预选赛伊朗主场的附加赛。大战在即,从爱尔兰赶来伊朗的观看这场比赛的女球迷迎来了一个好消息:她们终于可以进入体育馆内现场观战了。这是自1979年两伊战争以来,女球迷第一次获准进入伊朗体育馆观看球赛。但是,这一规定仅仅适用于爱尔兰的女球迷,伊朗的女球迷却没有这么幸运。 伊朗的体育馆禁止女球迷入场观看球赛,这样做是为了让她们免受现场男球迷污言秽语和粗暴动作的侵扰。而现场的电视转播则可以将这些噪音降至最低,在家里观看比赛的女球迷也就不会被污言秽语所冒犯。 一名伊朗足联的发言人告诉记者说:"球赛的当天会有将近300名爱尔兰女球迷进入赛场观看球赛,但是伊朗女球迷是不可以的。" "因为爱尔兰人不懂波斯语,所以在观看球赛的时候她们是听不懂伊朗男人的脏话的。" 但是伊朗也有许许多多"为足球疯狂"的女球迷,她们对不能亲临现场观看11月15日将在伊朗首都德黑兰举行的伊朗对爱尔兰的主场比赛而忿忿不平。 20岁的伊朗女球迷阿兹达对这种双重标准非常不满,她说:"我痛恨这种双重标准。到底我和一个爱尔兰女人有什么不同?为什么她可以到现场观看比赛,支持自己国家的球队,而我就不可以?我们伊朗女球迷也应该可以入场看比赛。"
1998年的世界杯预选赛中,伊朗战胜了澳大利亚赢得了决赛权。但是在那场球赛中发生了伊朗女球迷被殴打,并且被赶出球场的暴力事件。 这次伊朗和爱尔兰的交锋是爱尔兰在1972年巴西邀请赛中2:1战胜伊朗后,两队的首次相遇。 预计11月15日的德黑兰之战将会有大约1000名爱尔兰球迷到伊朗观战。 (中国日报网站译) |