"In Iran, football literally is a matter of life and death" | Dr. Babak Fazooni
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"In Iran, football literally is a matter of life and death" | Dr. Babak Fazooni

26:52 Mar 10, 2026
About this episode
Dr. Babak Fazooni, tutor at The Open University, joins Eoin to reflect on the power of football as both a distraction and a form of protest for the Iranian people throughout decades of authoritarian rule. With members of the Iranian Women's team currently applying for asylum in Australia, Dr. Fazooni explains how the sport is deeply entrenched in Iranian feminism, as well as looking to a Men's World Cup where it seems increasingly less likely that Iranian players will take to the pitch come June.
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