Women in Iran are prohibited from watching live public screenings of Euro 2012 football games because of an “inappropriate” environment where men could become rowdy, several media reported quoting a deputy police commander as saying.

“It is an inappropriate situation when men and women watch football in (movie) theatres together,” said Bahman Kargar, Iran’s deputy police commander in charge of social affairs, according to the ISNA news agency.

“Men, while watching football, get excited and sometimes utter vulgar curses or tell dirty jokes,” he said. “It is not within the dignity of women to watch football with men. Women should thank the police.”

In Iran, the games are being broadcast on state television as well as in cinemas.

Swimming pools, beaches and parks as well as universities are segregated in the Islamic republic to ensure there is no physical contact between sexes.