Iranian Woman Who Set Herself On Fire After Being Sentenced To Prison For Six Months For Seeing A Men's Soccer Game Has Died

Masoud Shojaei (left) attends a press conference in Kazan, Russia, with Iran coach Carlos Queiroz during the FIFA World Cup in June 2018.

RFE: Iranian Soccer Star Condemns Female Ban At Men's Games After Woman Sets Herself Alight

The captain of Iran's national soccer team has renewed his criticism of a ban on female spectators following reports a young Iranian woman set herself alight after being sentenced to prison for trying to attend a men's soccer match.

Masoud Soleimani Shojaei -- who is considered a national hero -- said on September 6 that the ban was the result of "rotten and disgusting thinking."

Women are banned from attending male sporting events in Iran. In past years, only selected groups of women have been allowed into stadiums to watch soccer matches or other men's sporting events.

Devoted female soccer fans have managed to defy the ban on rare occasions by disguising themselves as men.

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Update #1: Iranian female soccer fan dies after setting herself on fire (AP)
Update #2: Iranian soccer fan 'Blue Girl' dies after setting herself on fire (Reuters)

WNU Editor: This is a huge story in Iran right now.