Peyman Akbari: Do Not Allow Female Journalists into the Volleyball Hall

This is not a fashion hall; female journalists should not be allowed inside. This statement was made not by the officials of the Ministry of Sports but by the former captain of the national volleyball team and the current head coach of Paykan Club, Peyman Akbari. Akbari has been a member of the national team for 11 years and has also won the title of the best player in the Asian Club Championship. As a coach, he has led Paykan to become the champion of the Premier League and has won the first title in the Asian Club Championship. Akbari's opposition to the entry of female journalists into the hall comes at a time when, in recent months, at the request of the International Federation of this sport, about a hundred professional clubs around the world have supported women interested in volleyball in Iran by displaying banners or reading statements before their competitions. In response to reporters' questions about why he said 'this is a fashion hall' during the game, he stated: 'My player is hitting the ball under stressful conditions, and then a female journalist is filming and laughing at that moment. What would you do if you were in my player's place?' Akbari further stated: 'If there is a law prohibiting women from entering the volleyball hall, it should apply to all women, so why should female journalists be allowed in? If this is not the case, then all women should be allowed into the volleyball hall.' These events occurred during the match between Paykan and the Ministry of Defense in the first round of the knockout stage of the Premier League. Akbari protested both the referee's decisions and the presence of a female journalist in the hall due to losing two games in this match! After the game, he apologized to the referee during an interview but did not correct his statements about women. The incident unfolded when several Paykan players rushed towards the referee in protest, and suddenly some players from this team, along with Peyman Akbari, shouted towards the journalists' area, questioning their right to film. This protest continued with the phrase 'Is this a fashion hall or a volleyball home?' Although filming and any form of news coverage is permissible for journalists, athletes or coaches do not have the right to prevent their activities. The ISNA news agency, in its critical report, noted the growing interest of people and media in volleyball, stating: 'Volleyball players, who used to jump when a journalist's number appeared on their phone, now no longer have the patience to respond to media personnel.' After the Asian Championship in 2011 and the increase in restrictions on the presence of female spectators in volleyball halls, female employees of the federation, female athletes, coaches, and family members of athletes were forced to attend in the journalists' area. For this reason, fake press cards were issued for some, so that the number of journalists and photographers in the World League reached 150. In its dual perspective, ISNA emphasized that 'sexual harassment and discriminatory language must be eradicated from Iranian sports society forever.' Despite the behavior of Paykan team members in the Premier League, ultimately only a few journalists addressed this issue. Female journalists have a significant role in the list of sports media journalists in Iran, which is not limited to women's sports. They work and have an impact in various sports, including football, volleyball, basketball, athletics, and even wrestling, in news agencies, press, and broadcasting. Journalists who, compared to their male colleagues, have neither caused scandals nor clashed with coaches or athletes, but sometimes have to endure such statements from the sports community. A few days after the incident, the Sports Writers Association has yet to respond. One of the members of the association is the public relations officer of the Ministry of Sports, and another is the cultural deputy of the Ministry of Sports, who are more concerned with the ministry's issues than the problems of the journalists who voted for them.