March 3 – Football’s rule-making body has given the green light for both male and female players to wear head coverings for religious reasons during games.
The International FA Board, as well as rubber-stamping a previous ruling to allow women players to wear headscarves, or hijabs, has now sought to clarify the rules for men following a request from the Sikh community in Canada.
“We had a request from the Sikh community to play with headgear and to avoid discrimination against men, it was decided that what applied to women can apply to men,” said FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke. “We will now work exactly on the definition on these covers.”
Last year, Quebec football officials caused a storm when they were suspended from the national body for enforcing a ban on turbans and other religious headwear for safety reasons. The ban was lifted only after FIFA intervened.
A spokesman for the Quebec Soccer Federation said everyone will now follow the rules. “All we’ve wanted, for years, is to have a clear position (from FIFA) and rules to follow, and now we know what to do, and we’ll do it,” said spokesman Michel Dugas.
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