Upset at league game

Hugging a female fan: Iran’s World Cup goalkeeper banned

Hossein Hosseini was suspended for one match.(Bild: APA/AFP/FADEL SENNA, X/prznsoccer)

Iran's national soccer goalkeeper Hossein Hosseini has been suspended for one match after hugging a female supporter. The disciplinary committee of the Iranian Football Federation (FFI) also imposed a fine of three billion rials (approx. 7,000 euros) on Wednesday evening, as reported by the soccer portal Varzesh3.

The background to the FFI's unusual decision was the first division match between Esteghlal Tehran and Aluminum Arak last Friday. As a limited number of women have been allowed into soccer stadiums in Iran for several weeks now, there were hundreds of female fans in the stadium for this match. Shortly before the end of the game, one of the female supporters stormed onto the pitch and hugged Esteghlal goalkeeper Hosseini. In Iran, it is generally forbidden to touch women who are not part of the immediate family.

Wanted to prevent violence against the woman
"What was I supposed to do, she just hugged me," said Hosseini after the game. He had been taken by surprise and had simply tried to prevent the groundsmen from using violence against the young woman, he said.

It was the first time in Iranian soccer history that a female fan stormed onto the pitch and the soccer association made such a decision. Observers assumed that the ban and fine against the 31-year-old goalkeeper from the 2022 World Cup would trigger harsh protests and that this could lead to the decision being overturned.