Iran goalie hits back after Jordan FA accuses her of being a man

Koudaei said emphatically, 'I am a woman. This is bullying from Jordan.' 'I will sue the Jordan FA,' she added.

Koudaei, the Iran shot-stopper, saved two penalties as the win ensured Iran's qualification for the Asia Cup. (Twitter)

Jordan Football Association (FA) called on the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) to launch an investigation and determine the sex of a goalkeeper, identified as Zohreh Koudaei, of the Iranian women’s football team. But on Thursday, as reported by the Daily Mail, Koudaei has hit back and vowed to sue the Jordan FA on grounds of ‘bullying’.

“I am a woman. This is bullying from Jordan,” Koudaei said emphatically.

“I will sue the Jordan FA,'” she was quoted as saying by the Turkish newspaper Hurriyet.

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The incident, which transpired in July, occurred during a qualifying game of the 2022 Women’s Asia Cup between Jordan and Iran where Iran won 4-2. Koudaei, the Iran shot-stopper, saved two penalties as the win ensured Iran’s qualification for the upcoming Asia Cup.

Iranian women’s football team won against its Jordan opponent and reached the final of the Asian Cup qualifiers. Iranian goalkeeper, Ms. Zohreh khodaei, really shined in this game.🌸🏵️🙏🙏🙏🙏💖❤️#Iran pic.twitter.com/Bf9xcbn8Gm

— 🇮🇷Mahdi12m313 (@mahdi12m313) November 17, 2021

This led to the Jordanian Football Association president Prince Ali bin Hussein claiming that Koudaei is a male posing as a female. He also followed up the claim with a tweet that he sent to the Asian Football Confederation, calling the situation “very serious if true,” whilst demanding the association to “wake up.”

No relevance to previous tweets but it’s a very serious issue if true. Please wake up @theafcdotcom pic.twitter.com/egk678CXCX

— Ali Al Hussein (@AliBinAlHussein) November 13, 2021

According to a report by the Times of Israel, the selector of Iran, Maryam Irandoost, dismissed the allegation.

“The medical staff has 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.”