Iranian women were finally allowed into Azadi Stadium to watch the Esteghlal and Persepolis match in the Iran Professional League (IPL) on Thursday.

According to The Iran Project, For the first time in recent four decades, Iranian female spectators were allowed to watch the match. Before that Women only allowed to attend in some Iran league and National team matches. 

Persepolis and Esteghlal football teams shared the spoils in a 1-1 draw at the Azadi Stadium in the 2023/24 Iran’s Persian Gulf Pro League (PGPL).

Esteghlal and Persepolis have met each other 101 times in Tehran derby. Persepolis have won 27 matches, while Esteghlal emerged victorious 26 times and 48 matches ended in draw.

Moreover, the video assistant referee (VAR) used in Tehran derby for the first time.

Also, President Gianni Infantino has hailed the global governing body's policy of engagement with Iran over the treatment of women in football is bearing fruit after Iranian women were allowed into the Tehran derby on Thursday.

welcoming the news that women had been allowed into Thursday's Iran Pro League match, Infantino described it as a sign of its success.

"It was, therefore, with great delight that I learned around 3,000 women attended the Tehran derby between Persepolis FC and Esteghlal FC today. Thanks to the ongoing dialogue between FIFA and the Islamic Republic of Iran Football Federation, progress is being made," he said.

The move has taken place while Women's rights campaigners Open Stadiums and another group of former Iranian athletes last year had called on FIFA to bare Iran from the World Cup because of the continued exclusion of women from football matches.