Women’s Football Receives Pro-hijab Campaign Backing

The campaign by FIFA vice-president Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein of Jordan to change the law and allow Muslim women to wear the hijab during matches has received the backing of the influential international players’ union FIFPro.

 The Islamic headscarf has been banned since 2007 but the issue has now come to light with change on the agenda.

 

A high profile case occurred during the London 2012 Olympic qualifying matches last year which resulted in the Iran’s women’s team being forced to forfeit, causing much controversy.

 

FIFPro spokeswoman Frederique Winia said: “The current ban on wearing headscarves for religious reasons is discrimination.”

 

Prince Ali will make a presentation to IFAB members showing the hijab held in place by Velcro rather than pins, thereby eliminating any safety dangers.

 

He is concerned that Muslim women could turn away from the sport if the law is not changed.

 

“It is very important that everybody has the chance to play the sport that they love and obviously the laws of the games have to be amended to allow that,” he was recently quoted as saying.

 

By Marc Sibbons