The Islamic Republic’s Football Association is state-sponsored and managed – violation of FIFA statute 19, women have not been allowed to enter stadiums since 1981 – violation of FIFA statute 4. Many women who have attempted to enter stadiums have been arrested. One young woman, Sahar Khodayari, facing a six months prison term set herself alight in protest and lost her life. With FIFA’s intervention, women were invited to attend a world cup qualifier match in Mashhad. Tickets in hand they were met with batons and pepper spray and prohibited to enter the stadium. The continued killings and human rights violations violate FIFA statute 3.