Iran women’s soccer team accused of fielding opposite gender
The Iranian women’s football team has been accused of playing a man as their goalkeeper in a crucial fixture against fierce rivals Jordan.
Denzel Kimani 11 
Zohreh Kouade saved two penalties during their 4-2 penalty shootout victory over Jordan in Uzbekistan on the 25th of September, implying that the Iranian women’s national team qualified for the Women’s Asia Cup for the first time in their history.
The President of Jordan’s FA, Prince Ali bin al-Hussein, shared a letter on twitter requesting for gender verification probe from the Asian Football Federation (AFC) on the 32-year old.
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‘The AFC does not comment on ongoing investigations and/or proceedings whether actual or potential,’ said a spokesman to the AFC.
A former FIFA Vice President, Prince Ali, referred to it as a serious matter if it is true and demanded the AFC to ‘please wake up’.
No relevance to previous tweets but it’s a very serious issue if true. Please wake up @theafcdotcom pic.twitter.com/egk678CXCX
— Ali Al Hussein (@AliBinAlHussein) November 13, 2021 " title="Gender verification">
No relevance to previous tweets but it’s a very serious issue if true. Please wake up @theafcdotcom pic.twitter.com/egk678CXCX
— Ali Al Hussein (@AliBinAlHussein) November 13, 2021
Image source Getty Images
Meanwhile Iran’s team selector Maryam Irandooost was having none of it and dismissed all allegations, claiming that Jordan are just looking for excuses to justify their defeat having been the favorites going into the fixture.
“The medical staff have carefully examined each player on the national team in terms of hormones to avoid any problems in this regard, and so I tell all fans not to worry,” she told Sports news site Varzesh3 on Sunday.
The coach stated that Kouadei had previously represented her homeland in the Asia Cup qualifiers in 2008 and 2010.
'We will provide any documentation that the Asian Confederation of Football wishes without wasting time,' she added.
The letter sent by Jordan Football Association dated 5th November, was quick to point out doubts over the eligibility of a participating player. It is also alleged that Iran’s women’s team has a reputation of gender and doping issues in the past and called out for matter to be looked up.
Irandoost also added that Jordan allegations was just an excuse to lick their wounds after their loss to 'Melli Baanovaan.'
'These allegations are just an excuse not to accept the defeat against the Iranian women's national team,' she said.
'The Jordanian team considered themselves the big favourite to qualify... and when they lost... it was natural to seek relief under false pretences and to escape responsibility for this failure.'
In the past Iran has been accused of fielding men in their women’s team with their latest scandal being in 2015 whereby eight players in the squad were alleged to be men waiting for gender surgery.
Football in Iran is very popular with women despite their hardline Islamic Law that forbids them from watching matches between men.
The 2022 AFC Women’s Asia Cup is set to commence in India in late January.
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