A goalkeeper from one of Iran’s leading football clubs has been suspended following an incident where he embraced a female supporter during a championship match.
Hosswin Hosseini, 31, who is a member of Tehran-based team Esteghlal, faced suspension after the occurrence on April 12.
During the match, an Esteghlal fan breached security and entered the field. Despite efforts by stadium security to restrain her, Hosseini approached the woman and briefly embraced her while security personnel attempted to intervene.
According to reports, Iran’s football federation imposed a fine of approximately $4,700 on the goalkeeper and handed him a one-match suspension for what was deemed as “inappropriate conduct towards security personnel during the game.”
The history of women’s attendance at football matches in Iran has been marked by restrictions, particularly since the 1979 Islamic revolution.
However, in August 2022, women were permitted to attend a championship match for the first time in over four decades.
Hosseini, a long-standing player at Esteghlal, has been a prominent figure in Iranian football. He notably represented Iran in a 2022 World Cup match against England when the first-choice goalkeeper was sidelined due to injury.
Esteghlal, often referred to as “The Blues”, currently leads the Iranian league standings with only six matches remaining in the season.
