Calls for reform over fan’s death

IRANIAN footballers have called for reform after the death of a female fan who was facing a possible prison term for trying to enter a stadium.

Women are banned from football stadiums in the Islamic Republic, though they are allowed at some other sports, such as volleyball.

Sahar Khodayari died at a Tehran hospital on Monday, according to the Shafaghna news agency. The 30-year-old was known as The Blue Girl on social media for the colours of her favourite Iranian team, Esteghlal.

She set herself on fire last week, reportedly after learning she may have to go to prison for trying to enter a stadium in March to watch an Esteghlal match.

She was pretending to be a man and wore a blue hairpiece and a long overcoat when the police stopped her.

Ms Khodayari, who had graduated in computer sciences, then spent three nights in jail before being released pending the court case.

Esteghlal issued a statement, offering condolences to Ms Khodayari’s family.

Former Bayern Munich midfielder Ali Karimi, who played 127 matches for Iran and has been a vocal advocate of ending the ban on women, urged Iranians in a tweet to boycott stadiums to protest against Ms Khodayari’s death.