Iranian women pepper-sprayed at WC qualifier

Iranian women were pepper-sprayed by security guards as they tried to enter the Imam Reza stadium to watch a World Cup qualifier, fuelling calls for FIFA to ban Iran from the tournament. About 2,000 women and girls were "refused entry" despite having tickets for Iran’s match against Lebanon in Mashhad. Video "showed large numbers of women protesting at the gates of the stadium, while others were pepper-sprayed by security guards." The country’s FA blamed the women and said that their presence could have caused a “crisis” because “necessary” facilities had not been provided. It later backtracked on its statement, and apologized to those hurt and barred from the match. President of Iran Ebrahim Raisi ordered his interior minister to investigate the pepper-spray assault. Attorney General Mohammad Jafar Montazeri said women’s treatment at the stadium gates was "unacceptable" and officials “should have used their brains" (LONDON TIMES, 3/31).