Jordan demands investigation into Iran football player’s gender

Jordan has called on the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) to launch an investigation to determine the gender of a goalkeeper on the Iranian women’s football team, France24 reported.

Iran beat Jordan 4-2 on penalties after a goalless draw on September 25 to qualify for the 2022 Women’s Asian Cup for the first time in its history.

The president of the Jordan Football Association, Prince Ali Bin Al-Hussein, tweeted on Sunday a letter “requesting a gender verification check” on the Iranian player in question, suggesting that the keeper was a man posing as a woman.

Hussein described it as “a very serious issue if true”, France24 reported

But Iran team’s selector, Maryam Irandoost, dismissed the allegation.

“The medical staff have carefully examined each player on the national team in terms of hormones to avoid any problems in this regard, and so I tell all fans not to worry,” Irandoost told sports news site Varzesh3 on Sunday.

“We will provide any documentation that the Asian Confederation of Football wishes without wasting time.”

Iranian goalkeeper Zohreh Koudaei blocked two goal attempts by the Jordanian team, resulting in Iran’s qualification.

The Jordan Football Association’s letter alleged that the Iranian women’s team “has a history with gender and doping issues”, and called for “due process” to be followed, France24 reported.

The 2022 AFC Women’s Asian Cup is set to kick off in India in January.