FIFA to address hijab ban
Iran to file complaint after team barred from playing Olympic qualifier.
AMMAN:
Fifa Vice-President Prince Ali of Jordan will raise the issue of a ban on Iran’s women team over their traditional Islamic headscarf with world and Asian football bodies.
Ali felt that it was important to find a solution to the problem. “This is an important issue that I’ll raise with the Asian Football Confederation and with Fifa,” he said. “We’ll work together to find a solution that respects the rules of the game and the culture at the same time.”
Iranian media had reported that Tehran planned to lodge a complaint with Fifa after its women’s team was barred from playing in an Olympic qualifier against Jordan for wearing headscarves.
Jordanian news reports have said that ‘tough penalties are awaiting Iran’s team’ after they refused to remove the hijab which is mandatory for Iranian women.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 8th, 2011.
Fifa Vice-President Prince Ali of Jordan will raise the issue of a ban on Iran’s women team over their traditional Islamic headscarf with world and Asian football bodies.
Ali felt that it was important to find a solution to the problem. “This is an important issue that I’ll raise with the Asian Football Confederation and with Fifa,” he said. “We’ll work together to find a solution that respects the rules of the game and the culture at the same time.”
Iranian media had reported that Tehran planned to lodge a complaint with Fifa after its women’s team was barred from playing in an Olympic qualifier against Jordan for wearing headscarves.
Jordanian news reports have said that ‘tough penalties are awaiting Iran’s team’ after they refused to remove the hijab which is mandatory for Iranian women.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 8th, 2011.