The Iranian girls’ soccer team finally had the chance on Sunday to talk about something other than their uniforms at the Youth Olympics.
After days of fielding questions about their hats and leggings, Iran beat Papua New Guinea 1-0 with a goal in the second half.
“In the past few days, everyone ask me about the uniform and not football,” Iran coach Shahrzad Mozafar said. “I don’t want to talk about the uniform. We are here to play football. What does it matter with the shirts and the caps?”
PHOTO: EPA
SAFETY
Soccer’s governing body FIFA initially barred the team from taking part in Singapore because of their insistence on wearing head scarves. FIFA banned hijab scarves — which protect the modesty of Islamic girls and women — in 2007 for safety reasons and to prevent political or religious statements on the field.
Iranian designers responded by designing a new outfit that included a cap, long-sleeved thick tops, below-knee trousers and long stockings.
FIFA approved it but objections from some Iranian officials almost scuttled the team’s trip to Singapore.
FIRST VICTORY
On the pitch, Iran’s first victory in the six-team tournament keeps its medal hopes alive.
“It’s so good because my team will go to the second round,” said Fatemeh Ardestani, who scored the goal after slotting in a rebound. “My federation worked so hard and now we are here.” Mozafar said she hoped Iran would give the girls’ team more resources.
“This is an international victory and very important for me, my players and the [football] federation,” Mozafar said.
“I think the federation must know now that girls’ football in Iran needs more support and will get better in the future. This is a really big step for us,” he said.
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