
Fans of Persepolis who were attacked with stones by Khouzestan's Esteghlal fans are seen during the football match between Khouzestan's Esteghlal and Tehran's Perspolis at Alghadir Ahvaz Stadium on May 15, 2016 in Ahvaz, Iran.
Iranian Fans
2015-2019
Iran is an Islamic republic country on the Persian Gulf with a population of about 78 million, nearly half men and half of them women. The conflict between tradition and modernity in Iran, which has unfolded over the past three decades, has delivered a generation with personality disorders and complications to the society. As a matter of fact, the sports stadiums have turned into a place for individuals to discharge their rage which is expressed through cussing, drug abuse, and harassing. For those reasons, women are banned from attending soccer and volleyball stadiums and participating in other sports complexes are alongside restrictions.

Fans of Esteghlal F.C., an Iranian professional Soccer Club based in Tehran, smoking cannabis at the Azadi Stadium while the two teams of Esteghlal F.C. and Naft Tehran F.C. are competing against each other for the “Elimination Cup,” run by the Iranian Football Federation.
Esteghlal defeated Naft 2-1 at Azadi Stadium on Sep 21, 2015 in Tehran, Iran.
Esteghlal defeated Naft 2-1 at Azadi Stadium on Sep 21, 2015 in Tehran, Iran.

Women fans cheers during the 3rd Persian Football League at Shahid Beheshti University on September 8, 2017 in Tehran, Iran. The Persian League is one of the activities of the Imam Ali Student Relief Society. 22 teams of children and adolescents from marginalized and slum areas compete in the 3rd Persian league.

Esfarayen’s spectators are seen during the Choukhe wrestling competition at Zeinal-Khan wrestling arena on April 3, 2017 in Esfarayen city of North Khorasan, Iran.
'Ba choukhe’ or ‘Cuxe’ wrestling is one of the most ancient and most popular local sports in Iran. ‘Cuxe’ means woolen garment. This form of wrestling first appeared in the northern regions of Khorasan is a vast province in the north-east of Iran]. In addition to maintaining a great degree of cultural richness, every year ‘Ba choukhe’ brings tens of thousands interested spectators together in the city of Esfarāyen.
Once ‘Ba choukhe’ wrestling was common just in the North Khorasan, but over time the sport gradually spread to the south of the province. Today, the traditional wrestling is a pan-Khorasan sport, with a feverish support in the south.
The uniform of ‘Ba choukhe’ wrestlers is called ‘Choke,’ a short mantle that wrestlers fasten tightly around their bodies with a white colour shawl.
'Ba choukhe’ or ‘Cuxe’ wrestling is one of the most ancient and most popular local sports in Iran. ‘Cuxe’ means woolen garment. This form of wrestling first appeared in the northern regions of Khorasan is a vast province in the north-east of Iran]. In addition to maintaining a great degree of cultural richness, every year ‘Ba choukhe’ brings tens of thousands interested spectators together in the city of Esfarāyen.
Once ‘Ba choukhe’ wrestling was common just in the North Khorasan, but over time the sport gradually spread to the south of the province. Today, the traditional wrestling is a pan-Khorasan sport, with a feverish support in the south.
The uniform of ‘Ba choukhe’ wrestlers is called ‘Choke,’ a short mantle that wrestlers fasten tightly around their bodies with a white colour shawl.

Esfarayen’s spectators are seen during the Choukhe wrestling competition at Zeinal-Khan wrestling arena on April 3, 2017 in Esfarayen city of North Khorasan, Iran.
'Ba choukhe’ or ‘Cuxe’ wrestling is one of the most ancient and most popular local sports in Iran. ‘Cuxe’ means woolen garment. This form of wrestling first appeared in the northern regions of Khorasan is a vast province in the north-east of Iran]. In addition to maintaining a great degree of cultural richness, every year ‘Ba choukhe’ brings tens of thousands interested spectators together in the city of Esfarāyen.
Once ‘Ba choukhe’ wrestling was common just in the North Khorasan, but over time the sport gradually spread to the south of the province. Today, the traditional wrestling is a pan-Khorasan sport, with a feverish support in the south.
The uniform of ‘Ba choukhe’ wrestlers is called ‘Choke,’ a short mantle that wrestlers fasten tightly around their bodies with a white colour shawl.
'Ba choukhe’ or ‘Cuxe’ wrestling is one of the most ancient and most popular local sports in Iran. ‘Cuxe’ means woolen garment. This form of wrestling first appeared in the northern regions of Khorasan is a vast province in the north-east of Iran]. In addition to maintaining a great degree of cultural richness, every year ‘Ba choukhe’ brings tens of thousands interested spectators together in the city of Esfarāyen.
Once ‘Ba choukhe’ wrestling was common just in the North Khorasan, but over time the sport gradually spread to the south of the province. Today, the traditional wrestling is a pan-Khorasan sport, with a feverish support in the south.
The uniform of ‘Ba choukhe’ wrestlers is called ‘Choke,’ a short mantle that wrestlers fasten tightly around their bodies with a white colour shawl.

Hassan carrying his friends "akbar" to going towards Alghadir Stadium for the Football match between Khouzestan's Esteghlal and Tehran's Persepolis at Alghadir Ahvaz Stadium on May 15, 2016 in Ahvaz, Iran.
It is an easy task for football fans to watch a football match in the stadium. But it could be a dream for a minority of them. A number of cancer-afflicted children having passed through the polluted air of Ahvaz and the dusty roads to Al-Ghadir Stadium, made their dreams come true and managed to watch one half of the Esteghlal-e Khouzestan and Persepolis match during the 9th week of Iran premiere football league.
They struggle for life not for the ball.
It is an easy task for football fans to watch a football match in the stadium. But it could be a dream for a minority of them. A number of cancer-afflicted children having passed through the polluted air of Ahvaz and the dusty roads to Al-Ghadir Stadium, made their dreams come true and managed to watch one half of the Esteghlal-e Khouzestan and Persepolis match during the 9th week of Iran premiere football league.
They struggle for life not for the ball.

Filband’s spectators are seen during the Locho wrestling competition on July 24, 2019 in Filband city of Mazandaran province, Iran.
Traditional Locho wrestling, which dates back to more than a thousand years ago, is one of the local sports of Mazandaran Province in northern Iran, which still has many fans. 'Locho' wrestling competition were held between people of different age groups and the winners of the competition receives a sheep prize.
Traditional Locho wrestling, which dates back to more than a thousand years ago, is one of the local sports of Mazandaran Province in northern Iran, which still has many fans. 'Locho' wrestling competition were held between people of different age groups and the winners of the competition receives a sheep prize.