Iran To Ease Ban On Women Attending Sports Matches

Iranian authorities say they will partially lift a ban on women attending men's sports matches.

The official IRNA news agency quoted Deputy Sports Minister Abdolhamid Ahmadi as saying on April 4 that Iran's State Security Council had approved a plan by his ministry to allow women and families to attend some sports events.

Ahmadi added that women won’t be allowed to attend all “types of sport,” without elaborating.

He also said the new policy will come into effect during this Iranian year, which ends in March 2016.

In March, FIFA President Sepp Blatter urged Iran to end the "intolerable" ban on women watching soccer games in stadiums.

Women in Iran were banned from attending sports events after the 1979 Islamic Revolution, but some exceptions have since been made.

Based on reporting by AP and Reuters