It is rare for women and men in Iran to enjoy the thrill of sports together in public , but it happened over the weekend when several restaurants and cafes appeared to ignore a ban on broadcasting the World Cup . Inside one Tehran coffee shop , a young , veiled Iranian woman held her fiancé 's hand tightly as the seconds ticked down in Iran 's heart-stopping World Cup match against South American powerhouse Argentina . Another woman gently bit her French-manicured nails as she sat between two male friends who were drenched with nervous sweat and fast losing their voices . Throughout the rest of the cafe other women intermittently cheered , gasped , and shouted instructions at the direction of the big screen TV . `` 100 percent it 's better this way , '' said Negar Valayi . `` It does n't happen often . It would be great if we have more of this . '' `` It 's actually much better to watch it with a bunch of people around because it makes you feel more excited , '' said Roya Marzbahan . Authorities in Iran banned women from entering most sporting events following the 1979 Islamic Revolution because mixed crowds enjoying games was deemed un-Islamic . For the past 35 years , the crowds at football games -- Iran 's most popular sport -- have been all male . Iranian women were briefly allowed to attend volleyball matches during the presidency of moderate Mohammad Khatami but the ban was reinstated in 2005 when Mahmoud Ahmadinejad came to power . In an apparent effort to avoid mixed crowds watching this year 's World Cup , authorities warned restaurants not to broadcast games . `` We were told not to turn on the TV because it might create some problems , '' a restaurant hostess told CNN on the phone . In more subtle measures designed to deter mixed crowds , women do n't appear on World Cup billboards throughout Tehran , and state TV uses a delay of several seconds during matches to censor images of female fans deemed too racy for viewers . But in a country where conservative social norms often clash with a young , defiant , fun-loving population , women have continued to demand equality . Earlier this month , several Iranian women snuck into a men 's volleyball match in Tehran disguised as Brazilian fans , state media reported . Others protested outside the match . `` We have rights too . We should be able to go to games , '' said Negar Valayi . `` They 're taking our rights , '' said Roya Marzbahan . `` It 's our right to watch our teams . '' This month state media reported that female Vice President Shahindokht Molaverdi was `` investigating '' the ban on women attending volleyball matches -- a sign perhaps that Iran 's moderate President Hassan Rouhani is heeding Iranian women 's demand for equal rights to enjoy sports .
Women defy ban on watching sports with men to cheer on Tehran in Islamic Revolution . Ban was introduced after the past 35 years World Cup ; mixed crowds deemed CNN . Women continue to fight for equality .