Dubbed “Blue girl” for the colors of her favorite team, Esteghlal, the 29-year-old self-immolated in September 2019 outside a courthouse where she had been summoned after being arrested for trying to enter Azadi Stadium dressed as a man. Her death caused outrage, intensifying pressure on the authorities to allow women into soccer stadiums. Since the incident, women have been permitted to attend several matches. It was not clear how many women attended the August 25 game between Esteghlal and Mes-e Kerman at the 100,000-capacity stadium. State media reported that authorities had allocated 500 seats for women. Photos published by Iranian new agencies showed female spectators holding a sign reading: “[Women] deserve more than this.”
