Iran: FIFA Called on to Enforce Human Rights and non-Discrimination Policy

The International Trade Union Confederation, along with several union and civil society organisations, is calling on FIFA to ensure that its human rights policy is fully respected, and ensure that Iran ends its ban on women attending men’s football matches.

The ITUC and the Building and Woodworkers’ International BWI, Human Rights Watch, the Centre for Human Rights in Iran and Football Supporters Europe have launched an online petition calling for FIFA to uphold its anti-discrimination statute and human rights policy.

“The workers who build stadiums and bring global sporting events to life are the people whose human and trade union rights are put at risk by these events, and the fans who go to matches all depend on the pledges that international sports federations are making to protect their rights. Iran’s ban on women spectators is a flagrant violation of FIFA’s non-discrimination rules, and severely undermines the protection that its human rights policy should ensure,” said ITUC General Secretary Sharan Burrow.

Despite years of vague promises, the Iranian authorities have failed to end the ban on women. On 1 March this year, 35 women were arrested outside the Azadi Stadium in Tehran when they tried to enter the stadium to join the 95,000-strong all-male crowd, which included FIFA President Gianni Infantino. A promise made to Infantino by Iranian President Hassan Rouhani to end the gender ban has still not been fulfilled.

“Iran has an appalling human rights record, for labour rights abuses, discrimination against women, violations of freedom of speech and lack of freedom of association, and it is ranked in Category 5 ‘no guarantee of rights’ in the ITUC’s Global Rights Index. Workers involved in independent trade union activity face severe repression, including imprisonment on false charges. Since the beginning of the year, dozens of Iranian women who have protested against compulsory clothing rules have been arrested and face serious charges. With the Iran team competing in the men’s World Cup in Russia just a few weeks away, now is the time for FIFA to take a stand and push back against repression and discrimination,” said Burrow.

We must tell FIFA Iran must play by the rules and end the ban on women in stadiums before the World Cup’s opening ceremony. Sign the petition in support of all female Iranian football fans!

For more information, read the full article of Equal Times.

For more information, please contact the ITUC Press Department on +32 2 224 03 52 or mail to: press@ituc-csi.org

Related news

Reporters Without Borders Joins Sport & Rights Alliance to Champion Press Freedom in Sport

Reporters Without Borders Joins Sport & Rights Alliance to Champion Press Freedom in Sport

Ensuring Safety and Rights of Journalists in Sports More Important than Ever (Amsterdam, June 9, 2025) – The Sport & Rights Alliance is proud to announce its newest partner, Reporters Without Borders (RSF), an international non-profit organization at the forefront of the defense and promotion of journalism and the right to information. This significant partnership underscores […]

READ MORE

Saudi Arabia: Migrant Workers Electrocuted, Decapitated, and Falling to Death at Workplaces

Saudi Arabia: Migrant Workers Electrocuted, Decapitated, and Falling to Death at Workplaces

Prevent, Investigate Deaths; Compensate Families; Mandate Life Insurance (Beirut) – Scores of migrant workers in Saudi Arabia die in gruesome yet avoidable workplace-related accidents, including falling from buildings, electrocution, and even decapitation, Human Rights Watch said today. Saudi authorities have failed to adequately protect workers from preventable deaths, investigate workplace safety incidents, and ensure timely and adequate […]

READ MORE

Related resources

Submission to UN Human Rights Report on a World of Sport Free Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance

Submission to UN Human Rights Report on a World of Sport Free Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance

Countering Hate and Discrimination Against All People Impacted in Sport The world of sport is often perceived as a place in which none of the burdens and inequalities of society take place or could possibly exist. Embedded by ideals of excellence, respect and friendship, its philosophy often misleads people to discount the importance of critical […]

READ MORE

Submission to UN Human Rights Report on Combating Discrimination and Violence Against Intersex Persons

Submission to UN Human Rights Report on Combating Discrimination and Violence Against Intersex Persons

Ensuring the Rights of Intersex Athletes to Safe, Inclusive Sports Environments The LGBTI community faces numerous, often unique challenges when it comes to their right to participate in sport. Discriminatory narratives, exclusionary policies, and pervasive online harassment are just a few of the significant obstacles that hinder their ability to engage and enjoy in sports […]

READ MORE

Aerial shot of four crew rowers on teal water with Title: Behind the Statistics with blue highlight and eyebrow header above

Episode 2: “Behind the Statistics”

Understanding the data on abuse in sports Watch the second episode of our three-part series exploring scientific data on violence in sports: “Behind the Statistics.” In this video, we dive into prevalence studies and associated factors that put some groups of athletes at higher risk. Led by Dr Aurelie Pankowiak, postdoctoral researcher at the Institute […]

READ MORE

Join the Network

Sport has the potential to be a catalyst for human development, unity, and freedom, but too often it instead brings harm to its athletes, fans, and communities. We exist to uncover and rectify the many abuses that exist both in and around sport. We aim to transform sports into an authentic force for good.