FIFA lifts ban on Muslim headscarves for women's footballers

markesmith

http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/18733398

Football's rule makers have agreed to allow Muslim women to wear headscarves when they're playing.

The decision reverses a ban on the Islamic hijab that was introduced for Fifa competitions five years ago.

Headscarves had not been allowed due to safety concerns and because they were not recognised in the laws of the game.

But that has now all changed after International Football Association Board decided to change the rules.

"Safety and medical issues have been removed for the use of the headscarf," Fifa secretary general Jerome Valcke said.

Last year the women's football team from Iran were prevented from playing their 2012 Olympic second-round qualifying match against Jordan because they refused to remove their hijabs before kick-off.

Iran, who had topped their group in the first round of Olympic qualifiers, were punished with an automatic 3-0 defeat, which ended their dreams of qualifying for the London games.

Other sports such as rugby and taekwondo already allow the use of the hijab.

Let's see if we can break the record for a thread being closed on the Soccer forum.

Guess this is part of a wider debate regarding religion, gender, politics and so forth.

What are your opinions?

Pudsy33

It's the right move, not harming anyone.

mayordenis

It'll harm headers.

Father Damo

From my experience (especially from seeing them in Australia) Middle Eastern/ Iranian women are too hot to be face covered.

Shakira and Shannon Elizabeth (when she was in her American Pie days hot) are both of Middle Eastern origin.

Case rested.

3hn2givr7mx1sc

I know women footballers can look a bit rough and all, but Jaysus this is a tad harsh!