Iran’s theocratic government has summoned a high-profile footballer for questioning after footage emerged online showing a male player embracing a female fan following a controversial incident.
Ramin Rezaian, a defender for Tehran’s Esteghlal FC, the oldest professional football club in Iran, was reportedly seen hugging a female supporter in footage that surfaced online. The hug took place in front of the team bus after a game.
The incident has received a lot of attention, with some critics accusing the player of violating the country’s strict social norms that regulate interactions between men and women in public. Such displays of affection are considered highly inappropriate in Iran, especially outside marriage, and have received considerable attention from both the government and conservative elements of society.
Rezaeian, 34, has been capped more than 60 times by Iran. The defender also played club football in Qatar and Belgium.
Under Islamic law in Iran, which came into effect shortly after the 1979 Islamic Revolution, men and women are prohibited from making any physical contact unless they are closely related.
After the revolution, women were generally not allowed to attend football matches, but in August 2022 they were allowed to participate in a championship match for the first time in more than 40 years.
In April, Esteghlal goalkeeper Hossein Hosseini was suspended after hugging a female supporter during a championship match.
Media said at the time that the football federation had fined the goalkeeper the equivalent of $4,700 and imposed a one-match suspension for “bad behavior towards security officers during the match”.
(With input from AFP)