Iran stripped of hosting volleyball tournaments after banning women spectators

Ghoncheh Ghavami

The International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) imposed a ban on Iran which prevents the nation from playing host to international tournaments in the future. This move comes after British-Iranian woman, Ghoncheh Ghavami, was reportedly jailed by a Tehran court for trying to attend a men’s volleyball match. She was detained at Azadi stadium before the match between Iran and Italy. Female fans and women journalists were not allowed to enter the stadium. 

Iran has termed the decision by the sport’s governing body unfair and Iranian judiciary official denied Ghavami had been sentenced to jail, saying her trial had not yet finished. She was released within a few hours, but was rearrested after a few days when she came back to the stadium to collect her items which were confiscated by the stadium authorities earlier. 

Iran is now at a loss after Argentina were selected as the hosts for the Under-19 World Championships next year. 

A spokesman said FIVB would “not give Iran the right to host any future FIVB directly controlled events such as world championships, especially under age, until the ban on women attending volleyball matches is lifted”. President of Iran’s volleyball federation was unaware of any development of the ban. 

Iran volleyball federation president Mohammad Reza Davarzani said Ghavami’s case was not related to volleyball and “to make a connection between a non-sporting activity and our sport is unfair”.