Tuesday, April 06, 2010

FIFA dress code bars Iran girls from Youth Games

Oh what a hogwash!




ZURICH: Iran's girls' soccer team was thrown out of the Youth Olympics because FIFA rules prevent players from wearing an Islamic headscarf.


Thailand replaces Iran in the August tournament, the governing body of Asian soccer said on its Web site Monday.


The hijab scarf — worn by girls and women to observe Islamic dress code — was not allowed under FIFA rules relating to on-field equipment, the Asian Football Confederation said. Iran's national Olympic committee had urged soccer's international ruling body and the International Olympic Committee to review the ban.


FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke rejected the Iranian Olympic panel's request in a letter to the national soccer federation. He said the FIFA executive committee had "no choice but to take the decision."


FIFA maintains that soccer's international rulebook contains a section on player equipment, stating that "basic compulsory equipment must not have any political, religious or personal statements."


(Link)


Understand this. There is a difference between practicing your beliefs and 'making' a statement. If I am in a foreign country and I say my prayers in a public area, I am not 'making' a statement but merely practicing my faith. Whether you are sporting a beard or not, FIFA should not worry because its none of their business. Players are allowed to wear logos of various brands - no one says that they are making statement. You allow them just because money has no religion?


From ugly to racist, take your pick. FIFA rules suck.


Related Post
- Why Islamic Head Scarf Should be Banned

4 comments:

Ecclesiastes said...

As an ex-FIFA referee, I can see how the article has misled you. Head scarves are not allowed as a safety precaution. In 2007, the girl's parents sought an exception on religious grounds. The ruling mentioned in the article was on that exception.

Money has no religion, that is true. Neither does it have politics, nor any other loyalty at all.

Your opinion that "FIFA rule suck", is proof of the wisdom of their rules. The only thing that is going on during a soccer game is a soccer game.

PostMan said...

Thank you Ecclesiastes for your comment.

May I know how and why 'headscarves are not allowed as safety precaution'?

And the article states that 'FIFA maintains that soccer's international rulebook contains a section on player equipment, stating that "basic compulsory equipment must not have any political, religious or personal statements." This does not sound to me an issue regarding player safety.

Ecclesiastes said...

A head scarf are not allowed because an opposing player's hand or foot could become entangled with it and snap the girl's neck.

In fact no jewelry, nor bands of any kind are allowed. I barred male players for "irremovable" wrist bands, and have heard of female players being barred for tongue studs.

Yes, the article states something about a FIFA rule on religious statements. That's how I believe you were misled. That is a ancillary - and distracting - point. Head scarves are not - of themselves - religious symbols. Even if religious symbols were allowed, head scarves would not be. Head scarves are dangerous.

Reviewing the current Laws of the Game - http://www.fifa.com/mm/document/affederation/generic/81/42/36/lawsofthegame%5f2010%5f11%5fe.pdf - I note that the section cited is an F.A. decision rather than a law of the game. It is an addendum to Law 4, which specifies the basic equipment. Head scarves are not listed as basic equipment.

( BTW - Pay very, very, very close attention to Law 5. )

Further, in that decision, advertising is also prohibited as are any "personal" statements.

In any case, the Iranian girls weren't barred from the youth games. Players with illegal equipment were barred from the youth games. If the Iranian girls had agreed to abide by the rules, they could have played.

You are, of course, avoiding the point: The only thing that is going on during a soccer game is a soccer game.

You want to insert something that is not soccer into the game.

PostMan said...

Very interesting. Thank you Ecclesiastes.

I will try my best to create awareness why headscarves are dangerous during play and how can a person still play the game while trying his/ her maximum to obey religious commandments keeping within the rules.

Regards.