Jordan has called on the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) to launch an investigation to determine the sex of the heroic goalkeeper on the Iranian women’s football team, identified as Zohreh Koudaei
The Jordan women’s team have requested a ‘gender verification check’ against an Iranian goalkeeper who played against them.
On 25 September, Iran qualified for the 2022 Women’s Asian Cup for the first time in its history, following a 4-2 win on penalties after a goalless draw against Jordan.
Zohreh Koudaei was the hero for Iran, saving two penalties, but is now facing calls to confirm her gender at the request of Jordan’s Football Association.
Koudaei has been forced to defend herself after accusations about her gender previously in Iranian newspapers.
Prince Ali bin al-Hussein, who was previously vice president of FIFA has posted a letter which has been sent to the Asian Football Federation, in which a ‘gender verification check’ has been requested.
He also followed up the claim with a tweet that he sent to the Asian Football Confederation, calling the situation “very serious if true,” whilst demanding the association to “wake up.”
The letter states that although it is not mandatory for participating players to go under such checks, the guidelines laid down by the AFC do reserve the right to “investigate and take appropriate measures if there is doubt on the eligibility of a participating player.
It alleged the Iranian women’s team ‘has a history with gender and doping issues’ and called for ‘due process’ to be followed.
In 2015, the Iranian team was accused of acting unethically after eight members of the team were alleged to be men.
In 2014, the country introduced random gender checks on its players after four men were found to be playing on the women’s team who had reportedly not completed sex change operations.
Despite Iran’s sharia-based laws, sex change operations are reportedly legal and common.
According to a report by the Times of Israel, Iran team’s selector, Maryam Irandoost, dismissed the allegation.
“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,” Irandoost told sports news site Varzesh3 on Sunday.
“We will provide any documentation that the Asian Confederation of Football wishes without wasting time.
“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.”
MOLATsportgist 