Do not interfere in Iran women ban, says Daei

FRIEDRICHSHAFEN, Germany - Iran captain Ali Daei on Thursday hit back at foreign criticism of his country's ban on women from entering football stadiums.

Daei, the world's leading international goal-scorer, said that the ban was an internal matter that should be decided by the Iranian people.

"Every country has its own rules and culture. The United States is different from Iran, we have our own beliefs," said the 37-year-old veteran.

"Currently with the atmosphere in the stadiums, I don't want my wife to be there."

Daei, the first player to reach 100 international goals, said that he would prefer to scrap the rule but football grounds were too rowdy for women.

"I personally think they should relax this ban so women can go to stadiums but considering the atmosphere in stadiums and the respect we have for women it might not be appropriate at this time," he said.

"There's no danger at all but there are a lot of bad things being chanted and there's a lot of shouting at each other and we have respect for women, we don't want them to see that."

Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad made a surprise announcement in April that the ban would be lifted, but the order was vetoed by supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Daei also said "negative advertising" had created a misleading view of the Islamic country in the West.

"It's as big as the distance between here and sky," he said, when asked about the difference between perceptions of Iran and reality.

"Ninety-nine percent of what you hear is wrong and negative advertising."

Iran has become increasingly isolated over its nuclear program and Ahmadinejad's controversial views on the Holocaust, with the political fallout swirling around the team here.

Daei is hoping to add to his international tally of 109 goals as Iran takes on Mexico, Angola and Portugal in Group D.