Iran Women's Goalkeeper Speaks on Sensational Claims that She Is a Man

• Zohreh Koudaei wants to sue the Jordan FA over sensational allegations that she is a man
• The 31-year-old saved two penalties to help Iran qualify for the Women’s Asia Cup for the first time in their history
• Jordan was considered heavy favourites to beat Iran and the 4-2 defeat in the shootout passed as an upset

Iran women’s goalkeeper Zohreh Koudaei has come out to accuse the Jordan FA of bullying her after a request was tabled to have her gender clarified.

As TUKO.co.ke reported on Tuesday, Koudaei produced two excellent saves back in September in the penalty shootout in the Women's Asian Cup qualifier as Iran defeated Jordan.

Thanks to the 31-year old’s heroics, Iran secured their place in the Women's Asian Cup for the first time in their history.

Months later, however, the President of the Jordan Football Association Prince Ali Bin Al-Hussein submitted a sensational request to the Asian Football Confederation [AFC] to conduct a gender verification on Koundaei.

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He went on to say that it would be “very serious” if Koundaei was found to be of the opposite gender playing the women’s game.

Days after the request and Koundaei has come out to vehemently deny allegations that she is a man, in an interview with Turkish publication Hurriyet.

"I am a woman. This is bullying from Jordan. I will sue the Jordan FA," she said.

Officials from Iran have since defender their goalkeeper from the explosive allegations.

"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," team selector Maryam Irandoost said.

Maryam also said they were willing to provide the necessary documentation to prove their goalkeeper was not a man as claimed by the Jordan FA.

TUKo.co.ke understands that Jordan considered themselves heavy favourites to proceed to the Women’s Asia Cup.

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A solidarity campaign has since been launched in defence of Koundaei, with Iranians accusing the Jordan FA of bullying.