Soccer panel approves Islamic headscarves for women

Australian-Egyptian soccer player Assmaah Helal wears a Muslim head cover, or hijab, during a training session in Sydney on February 23, 2012. / TORSTEN BLACKWOOD/AFP/Getty Images

(AP) ZURICH - Soccer's rules-making panel approved headscarves for Muslim women players on Thursday, reversing a ban on the Islamic hijab that was enforced in FIFA competitions for five years.

The panel, known as IFAB, gave its approval to the headscarves after FIFA's medical committee concluded that two scarf designs submitted to its experts do not threaten female players' safety.

The laws of football prohibit equipment that is dangerous or makes religious statements and headscarves have been banned on the football field since 2007.

"Currently there is no medical literature concerning injuries as a result of wearing a headscarf," FIFA said in a statement after the meeting, adding that Thursday's decision will be reviewed at the IFAB Annual General Meeting in 2014.

The design, colour and material permitted to manufacture the headscarves will be defined and confirmed at the IFAB annual meeting in October, the statement also said.

The two designs approved Thursday use quick-release velcro fasteners and light magnets to tie the scarves bellow the chin.

FIFA vice president Prince Ali of Jordan led a year-long campaign to overturn the ban, and allow observant Muslim women - or female players, who live in countries that make headscarves mandatory for women to wear in public - to play the game.

Last year, Iran forfeited London Olympics qualifiers because the team's players were not allowed to play with headscarves.

[MagnaCartaUK]

Personally I have a problem with any country that enforces State-enforced religion, refuses to treat women as equals, and insists on compliance in regards to its rulings. Whilst faith is a personal choice, no quarter should be given in allowing symbols that are unnecessary in the sporting arena. Faith, if genuine, is internal, and has no justification for external display on a football pitch. Whether these women wear the scarf by choice, or are forced to, why is it necessary to wear it on a football pitch? All other cultures on Earth can manage not to expect 'exceptional treatment' in regards to the attire worn on the football pitch, so why allow this personal or State-sponsored 'statement of identity?' That is the purpose of the national colours of one's kit, and not anything else. Bad move F.I.F.A., but one in a long line of bad moves.

[mikeyisfree]

I can bet you a dime to a dollar that there were no women on the panel that decided women should have to wear headscarves in the first place.

I will also bet you a dime to a dollar that no God or Allah or whatever would demand women wear headscarves to show their faith either.

All things made up by jealous men to repress superior women.

[ittime]

i wouldn't be surprised to find a helmet under there