Accessibility links

Breaking News

Iranian Broadcast Censors World Cup Program Over Host’s Clothing


Maria Komandnaya (right), shown at a previous event with Russian billionaire Sergei Gordeev, served as host of the World Cup draw broadcast.
Maria Komandnaya (right), shown at a previous event with Russian billionaire Sergei Gordeev, served as host of the World Cup draw broadcast.

Portions of the 2018 World Cup draw broadcast were censored in Iran because authorities decided co-host Maria Komandnaya's clothing was too revealing.

Iranian state broadcaster IRIB on December 1 blocked the first part of the show from the Kremlin Palace in Moscow that featured Komandnaya, a Russian sports journalist, and former England soccer star Gary Lineker.

READ MORE: Russia To Play Saudi Arabia In 2018 World Cup Opener

IRIB broadcast only the portion of the program that featured the draw.

During the 2014 draw ceremony, Iranian TV cut out many parts of the broadcast because of what was considered revealing clothing worn by female Brazilian TV host Fernanda Lima.

Iranian soccer star Serdar Azmoun had called for Komandnaya to cover up on the program so the ceremony could be shown in full.

IRIB has “moral guardians” who immediately interrupt live programs when they believe a woman is wearing clothing deemed inappropriate.

With reporting by RFE/RL's Radio Farda, dpa, The Mirror, and The Sun, Interfax, TASS, and AFP
  • 16x9 Image

    RFE/RL

    RFE/RL journalists report the news in 27 languages in 23 countries where a free press is banned by the government or not fully established. We provide what many people cannot get locally: uncensored news, responsible discussion, and open debate.

RFE/RL has been declared an "undesirable organization" by the Russian government.

If you are in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine and hold a Russian passport or are a stateless person residing permanently in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine, please note that you could face fines or imprisonment for sharing, liking, commenting on, or saving our content, or for contacting us.

To find out more, click here.

XS
SM
MD
LG