WANA (May 12) – For the first time ever, Iran’s football VAR room will be operated by female referees. The Football Federation has announced that in the final week of the Persian Gulf Pro League, officiating duties in the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) room for one of the key matches will be entirely assigned to women.

 

In the match between Esteghlal Khuzestan and Tractor Tabriz, Mahnaz Zakaei will serve as the VAR referee, with Atena Lashni as her assistant — a historic moment in Iranian football. In another match between Persepolis and Havadar Tehran, Bahareh Seifi will work alongside Reza Mahdavi in the VAR room.

 

This move by the Iranian Football Federation marks an unprecedented step toward utilizing the capabilities of female referees. It has the potential to spark cultural and structural changes in Iranian football and elevate the role of women in officiating. All final-week matches of the league will kick off simultaneously at 7 PM on Thursday.