Referee Mahsa Ghorbani left Iran because of the threats she received when she was appointed last March lead a men’s party, although she was later forced to decline the role.

These threats included possible road accidents and acid attacks, Iranian media reported this on Monday.

“Few people imagined that Mahsa Ghorbani, one of Iran’s successful arbitrators, would decide to emigrate,” reported the Hammihan daily, to which the 34-year-old arbitrator confirmed that she emigrated to a European country which he did not specify.

In early March it was announced that Ghorbani would first woman to be a member of the refereeing panel at a men’s football match in Iran, although his role was supposed to be limited to VAR.

A few days later the organization Iranian Football League announced his resignation to avoid “possible disagreements.”

In her statements to Hammihanu, the 34-year-old referee said that “security authorities” threatened to attack her with acid to force her to give a “dictated” interview in which was forced to withdraw from refereeing the match between Esteghlal and Persepolis, the largest derby in Iranian football and throughout Asia.

“At first I was politely asked to leave the party. “They then asked me to write a letter saying that I was neither mentally nor emotionally prepared to be a judge.” – said Ghorbani. in statements to media outside Iran.

“After that, they asked me to sit in front of the camera and say that I was sick and couldn’t judge,” she continued.

When he gave it all up threats startedeven in road accidents or acid attacks.

Ghorbani explained that they did not want him to be tried by the GAR because this will be the first step: “They told me: today you will go to the VAR room, tomorrow you will referee on the wing, and the day after tomorrow you will be in midfield.”

For 40 yearsThe Islamic Republic of Iran did not allow women into stadiums, a taboo that was broken in 2019 during the Iran-Cambodia match they attended. 3500 womenunder pressure from FIFA.

Ghorbani’s departure from the country comes amid high tensions in the country for repression against women and when a new law is being studied to increase penalties for Iranian women who do not adhere to strict Islamic dress codes.

Four days ago, Iranian justice sued the singer who recorded the concert without covering herself with a veil and published it on the Internet, defending her right to sing.