Football: Iran to complain over women’s ban

TEHRAN: Iran will complain to Fifa after its women’s team was banned from a qualifying game for next year’s Olympics due to their Islamic dress. The Iranian team was banned from a match against Jordan shortly before the game was due to start in Amman. The players were clothed in white tracksuits and head coverings. “We will file a complaint to Fifa against the official in charge of the matches,” said Ali Kafashian, head of Iran’s football federation. The row over what women players are allowed to wear has been brewing for a year. Fifa banned the team last April due to their plan to wear headscarves.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 6^th, 2011.