Iranian Officials Bar Elderly Women from Playing Football

Intelligence officials in a remote Iranian village have denied elderly women access to a dirt field for playing football, IranWire reports.

The women, residents of Amerkajla village in the northern city of Abbas Abad and aged between 50 and 60, were informed that their activity was deemed "illegal" and a "breach of norms."

The decision stems from the Islamic Republic's stance on women's participation in football.

The women wanted to stay active and bond with each other by playing football, according to IranWire sources.

They set up matches, using different colored headscarves to tell the teams apart because they didn't have many resources.

These weekly sessions had a positive impact on their well-being and morale, the sources said.

They were approached by three plainclothed officials who informed them that playing football outdoors was prohibited for women, regardless of their age.

The women were advised to rent an indoor facility instead.

The officials expressed concerns that the older women's participation in an outdoor sport could negatively influence the youth and potentially lead to "lawlessness."

Financial constraints prevent these women from renting an indoor facility, so they remain hesitant to abandon their outdoor games.

However, the Abbas Abad Intelligence Department warned them that returning to the field would be considered a violation with potential legal consequences.