Woman applies to head Iranian football federation

TEHERAN, Nov 30 (AFP) - A woman has applied to head the Iranian football federation despite the country's ban on women even entering football stadiums, a website reported on Saturday.

Kadijeh Sepanji told that she wanted to blaze a trail for women.

"Someone has got to open the way to other people so that women have the courage to show what they are capable of," Sepanji said on the site.

Sepanji, who is described as having "30 years of experience at the federation", said she was under no illusions that the odds were stacked against her.

"The Federation's executive committee is made up of 43 members, of which two are women.

"To show that they don't even consider women, I am applying, but I am sure that none of the 41 male members of the committee will vote for me."

Under Iranian law, women are only allowed to play football indoors where men cannot see them. Women have been banned from football stadiums for several years.

The president of the country's football federation, Mohsen Safaee Farahani, resigned in September saying he was under unbearable pressure, although he refused to specify the problems he faced.

"I am sacrificing myself to let the national team continue its work with peace and those who are bearing a grudge against me to get their hands off the team," Farahani said.

He even compared Iranian football to an orphan which is raised by ruthless step-mothers.

Iran failed to qualify for this year's World Cup finals but won the Asian Games title by beating Japan 2-1 in the final in South Korea on October 13.