FIFA FORBIDS HEAD SCARVES

[SisterJennifer]

MANCHESTER, England - Soccer's legislators have ruled that no player can wear a head scarf on the field.


The International Football Association Board was asked at its annual meeting Saturday to adjudicate on a decision to ban an 11-year-old Muslim girl from playing in a tournament near Montreal last weekend because she was wearing a head scarf.


"If you play football there's a set of laws and rules, and law four outlines the basic equipment," said Brian Barwick, chief executive of the English Football Association, which is one of the IFAB members.


"It's absolutely right to be sensitive to people's thoughts and philosophies, but equally there has to be a set of laws that are adhered to, and we favour law four being adhered to."


Law four lists the items a player is entitled to wear and head scarves are not mentioned.


Goalkeepers are allowed to wear caps and protective headguards.


Asmahan Mansour was told to either remove her hijab or leave the field in an under-12 tournament near Montreal.


More: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/sto...3/BNStory/Front


<b>CONTACT FIFA:</b> (As always, be POLITE.) media@fifa.org, info@fifa.org, contact@fifa.org

[Curious Christian]

She should play by the rules or not play at all...

[SisterJennifer]

She should play by the rules or not play at all...

I dont believe in discrimination.

[reepicheep]

Mr. Doe wrote:


> What is she doing playing soccer anyway?


My reaction, John, is similar to your reaction.


My understanding of Islamic law is that it is a heinous, unforgivable sin for any female to engage in any sort of physical activity where men or boys might watch. Therefore, under Islamic law, this girl should not be playing soccer in the first place.


It's encouraging that some Muslims who live in Canada and other Western countries are beginning to reject some of the misogynistic beliefs that are so common in Islamic countries.


Interestingly, even Arab countries are starting to realize that the ban on women exercising is causing severe health problems among Muslim women. For example, check out the following article from the Feb 17, 2007 issue of "Arab News":


Editorial: Dangerous Lifestyle


which reads, in part:

Research published last month by the Ministry of Health and the Riyadh-based King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research indicates 45 percent of Saudi women and 23.5 percent of Saudi men are above their ideal body mass index and therefore overweight or grossly obese. The figure for the men is appalling enough; for women, it is staggering...
Saudi policy banning physical education in girls’ high schools is endangering the lives of women as they grow up under the impression that physical fitness is only important to men. The fact women are disproportionably affected by obesity in Saudi Arabia only makes this policy more ludicrous.

[Suhail]

Assalamualaikum


She should not have put herself in that situation , she should not be playing football, also wearing a scarf whilst playing football is a safety issue and i agree with Fifa , and i think its not discrimination ,

[SisterJennifer]

Assalamualaikum


She should not have put herself in that situation , she should not be playing football, also wearing a scarf whilst playing football is a safety issue and i agree with Fifa , and i think its not discrimination ,

Waalikum assalaamu brother Suhail,


Can you please point out to me how wearing a headscarf is going to endanger this girls saftey? The rules do not say she cant wear it, it just is not stated in the rules as to what is permissible and what is not. SO I think the rules should be updated in order that all girls have equal chance to play. That is my opinion.

[Dan]

Bismillah


"It's encouraging that some Muslims who live in Canada and other Western countries are beginning to reject some of the misogynistic beliefs that are so common in Islamic countries."


just to clarify... not "Islamic" but muslim. There is no Khalif.

[Curious Christian]

Some muslims would say that the women should be beaten or worse for even thinking about playing soccer.


Some muslims say that it is discrimination not to allow them to wear their head scarves.


Some muslims say that girls shouldn't wear one while playing but she be able to play.


Does the Quran address the issue of girls playing soccer?


If not...how does one know which is right?

[SisterJennifer]

Some muslims would say that the women should be beaten or worse for even thinking about playing soccer.


Some muslims say that it is discrimination not to allow them to wear their head scarves.


Some muslims say that girls shouldn't wear one while playing but she be able to play.


Does the Quran address the issue of girls playing soccer?


If not...how does one know which is right?

Asalaamu alikum,


I hope somebody will correct me if I am mistaken.


This is 11 year old girl playing soccer on a girls team. So I guess she is still considered a child. In Islam, we are considered adult at the start of puberty. And what I was told is for the ladies if we like to participate in sports, we may do so in a ladies club. We can't play mixed or in front of male audience (I dont think most practicing Muslimahs will want to anyhow) but for small children the rule is different.


I dont think the girl is considered an adult in this case. I know some girls from small age upward are wearing hijab even though it is not required yet in their age, because in the first place they are proud to, and in the second place, the parents feel that by letting them wear it freely at that age will make the transition more easy for them when they do hit the puberty age and it becomes a requirement.

[SisterJennifer]

Sorry for double posting but I hit the reply button early.


But I want to say that I feel like the girl was discriminated against in this case because she has been wearing headcover the whole time, and it was not an issue before, but for this particular ref it became a problem. Also, I feel like there is no good reason why she cannot wear it. If they want to say saftey concerns, I really wish they can explain this, as I have never once heard of a single women or girl who had her saftey jepordized due to wearing headcover.


And the other thing I wish people will understand is that the headcover is not something that can just be taken off and put on like a pair of shoes. For most who are choosing to wear it, even young girls, this is something that really comes from the heart and it is a part of who we are. It is not just an article of clothing.


May Allah forgive me if I said anything in error.