NARBONNE: A referee on Sunday refused to officiate a French women's football match, when players for one of the teams took the pitch wearing Muslim headscarves, the club involved said.
The official sent a report to the Languedoc-Roussillon league in the south of the country about the incident involving players from Petit-Bard Montpellier, who had been due to play Narbonne in the regional promotion tie.
The league must now decide whether to order the match to be replayed or to award a win to Narbonne.
The two teams played a friendly match instead, with Narbonne winning 7-6.
Football's world governing body FIFA banned players from wearing the headscarf in 2007, claiming it is unsafe.
But football federations and even the United Nations have urged FIFA to lift the ban, maintaining that concerns about safety are baseless and that it discriminates against Muslim players, particularly when no such restrictions apply in other sports.
Iran's women's team last year forfeited a 2012 Olympic qualifier because players wouldn't play without wearing hijabs.
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Simple thing, if u cant abide by rule just dont play... why to mix ur religion with sports... there is no room for fanatics in games ... just clear off the field
There's a limit to religious freedom, and there's a limit to what can be and should be tolerated. Veil is not just a piece of cloth, it's a mindset, a very poisonous one. If France tolerates veil, veil shall not tolerate France, hence it's better to nip the evil in the bud. Otherwise France will one day look like present day Pakistan or Afghanistan or even worse.
@Tehniat:
May I ask why you want to discriminate against clothes not worn on head?
For most Asian countries, the religion has its roots in their own culture. Besides, why do you want to discriminate against culture and traditions by placing them below religion?
@Yuri Kondratyuk: What about a Sikh wearing a turban! That is allowed....; right? So why no headscarfs.....
@Tehniat:
How do you know that? Are you Hindu, Chinese or Japanese? Religious leaders of these cultures do tend to wear such cloths.
@Yuri Kondratyuk....Langoti, Huafu and Kimono...they all are NOT worn on the head...you really need to grow up. Besides these dresses do not hold religious importance for the Hindus, Chinese and the Japenese.They are rather traditional and cultural!
wait!! how are these head-scarves unsafe?
What if the Indian mens team want to play with a langoti or if chinese team wants to wear a Huafu or Japanese the kimono?
Provocative behavior seeking at it's attention seeking best!!
@SalSal:
As compared to who............PAK? I believe this match was played in France............
Where r all the bayghayrat liberals now? How come they're not screaming about intolerance now? How come this doesn't make it to the top of the page like all those other 'minority oppression' themed articles? Do you give prominence only when Muslims are the bad guys? ET...you really suck
Is there any religious or cultural liberty in France especially for Muslims. Please tell me.
And they call themselves tolerant
FIFA. This is 2012 and not 2007. At that time, head coverings might not have been safe because the head and neck portion of clothing were not independent which could have led to snapping of neck. Now, various forms of head gear allay your fears for personal injury. Do away with the ban please.