Iran: Men versus women football game draws punishment

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
An Iranian football club has suspended three officials for allowing the club's female team and its youth male squad to play against one another. A report Monday on the Esteghlal club's Web site said two officials were suspended for a year each while the third was suspended for six months. A fourth official was fined. It was the first time in Iran's 30-year-long Islamic rule that men and women played football together. Iran's strict system bans any physical contact between unrelated men and women. The report didn't say when or where the match took place, or who won. A disciplinary committee issued the suspensions. The suspended included the head coach of the female team. Esteghlal is also known as "The Blues" for team colors.