Women's futsal breaks down barriers in Iran

FIFA - Tehran's entire population of 14 million seems to converge on the city's thoroughfares simultaneously. Such is the teeming, vibrant nature of this metropolis. From the top floor of the hotel, the city stretches endlessly to the horizon. Only the bleak, barren mountains to the north of the city, which at sunset take on a golden hue, check the sprawling magnificence.

The fourth Female Islamic Games took place here in this hotchpotch of streets, cars and tall buildings. Held every four years, the games are open to Muslim and non-Muslim women alike and comprise 18 events, including futsal. In addition to the countries bordering Iran, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and Russia also took part this year making 36 nations in total.

FIFA was invited by the Islamic Women's Sports Federation to hold a course for women futsal referees just before the games opened. Filipa Santos, the course instructor and the only woman referee in the Portuguese men's futsal first division, is a young woman who is passionate about her sport. 

Tehran was the venue for the Fourth Female Islamic Games between the 22 and the 28 September, 2005

(FIFA.com)

It is Filipa's task to explain the recent changes to the rules approved by the Futsal Committee: "They are really up for it", she says with a smile in the direction of the 13 Iranian women enlisted on the course. They are all amateur referees who study or work, but whose real passion is football, and futsal in particular. A typical example is Nader, a 31-year-old who claims she fell in love with football as a young girl when her father took her to see a match at the local stadium. From that moment on she dreamt one day of taking the pitch herself. Her dream became reality when, with the backing of the Iranian Football Federation, a women's futsal team was set up. After 6 years as a member of Iran's national team, she became a referee and now works part time at the Iranian Football Federation.

A technical coach comes from Brazil
The Federation is fully committed to women's futsal in Iran and three months ago brought over Ivece, a Brazilian coach, to improve the players' technique. "I didn't expect the level to be so high. I merely added a bit of Brazilian technique and the girls quickly picked it up", Ivece announces proudly.

Leila, Nehda, Sohelia and Mahnas hail from different parts of Iran as diverse as Tehran, Kermansha or Bandar Abbas to the south. Their lives are likewise quite different. Leila works in a travel agent's in Tehran, Nehda is a student at the University, while Mahnas is a P.E. teacher. Their love of football was passed on to them by their fathers or brothers. As young girls they played in the courtyards before joining a local women's team. The games afford all of them the incredible opportunity to finally compete on an international level with other teams. 

The Iranian women's football team pose for a photo during a training session.

(FIFA.com)

When training and playing matches, all the players wear shorts and shirts and temporarily remove the traditional veil. There is no need for it as only women are allowed into the sports arenas. The Iraqi women's futsal team, who have a male coach, is looked after during games by the female fitness coach. The male coach cannot enter the sports complex and makes do with meeting up with the team outside and giving them some final instructions. Television cameras, cameras and mobile phones are also banned. The only photos that can be published are those in which the players are completely covered. Despite such restrictions, the games are played in a party atmosphere with the spectators chanting, singing and applauding their respective teams. The passion they feel for the game is palpable. All 5 teams, Armenia, Turkmenistan, Iraq, Iran and the United Kingdom give their all despite very contrasting fortunes, such as the 41-0 trouncing Iran inflict on the United Kingdom!

As expected, Iran go on to lift the trophy, but results are not important. What matters is the desire shared by these young women from different countries, cultures and traditions to come together and take part in a sport that does not impose restrictions but that instead gives each of them the freedom to express themselves and celebrate sport in an atmosphere of unbridled joy.