Asian Football Federation urges FIFA to lift hijab ban

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: The Asian Football Confederation on Monday urged football’s top lawmaking body to approve a headscarf with safety features for use by Islamic female players. Football governing body FIFA banned the hijab or headscarf in 2007 for safety reasons, a move condemned by Islamic leaders and sports officials. Iran’s team forfeited a 2012 Olympic women’s qualifier against Jordan in June because the players refused to play without the hijabs. AFC acting chief Zhang Jilong, who is also a FIFA executive committee member, said a favorable decision by the International Football Association Board when it debates the issue on 3 March in London is crucial to the future of women’s football worldwide. [caption id=“attachment_197860” align=“alignleft” width=“380” caption=“Iran’s women football team before they were disqualified. Reuters.”]  [/caption] Since banning the hijab in 2007, FIFA last year extended the safety rule to include neck warmers, which were also judged a possible choking threat. In December, FIFA’s Executive Committee agreed to put forward a proposal to amend the rules following a presentation AFC vice president Prince Ali Bin Hussein of Jordan, who called on for rule-maker the IFAB to sanction a safe, Velcro-opening headscarf for players and officials. “Many women footballers in Asia wear headscarves. I would like to request the IFAB to favorably consider FIFA’s proposal and review the rule and allow women players to play wearing a safe headscarf that covers the neck,” Zhang said in a statement. Zhang said several new headscarf designs that ensure player safety were now available on the market. “I have personally seen the new designs with a Velcro joined at the neck, which releases if the headscarf is pulled, ensuring the player’s safety,” he added. AP