Eleven-Year-Old Girl Told to Remove Hijab because of “FIFA Rules”
By: Bob | February 27th, 2007
When she showed up for her team’s youth soccer match in Quebec, Canada, 11-year-old Asmahan “Azzy” Mansour was dressed as she always is for a game. She had on her team’s uniform, her shin guards and her boots. Mansour, a practicing Muslim, also had on her hijab, a traditional head covering worn by many Muslim women that is apparently not allowed under FIFA’s rules.
From the Globe and Mail:
The incident happened about five minutes into a game Sunday, when the Nepean coach wanted to substitute in Ms. Asmahan, who wasn’t in the starting line-up.
When she entered the game, Mr. Maneiro said, the referee blew his whistle, pointed at her and made a gesture indicating that she should remove her headgear. He then pointed at the bench.
The referee is himself Muslim, said tournament organizer Carole Fortin.
His game report, she said, merely stated that the coach had pulled his team out “because a player didn’t want to make her equipment abide (regulations).”
According to guidelines of FIFA, “a player shall not use equipment or wear anything (including any kind of jewelry) that could be dangerous to himself or another player.”
How a head scarf could be a danger to anyone is beyond me. I guess in theory a players hand might get caught in it and that could somehow lead to an injury. I guess. But if player safety is really the issue here than rules should be made to make the ball less dangerous for one’s head, the ground softer to fall on and there should be absolutely no contact allowed between players.
Rules and regulations are of course necessary for a functioning society, but sometimes common sense needs to prevail. Preventing an 11-year-old from playing in a sporting event because of religious clothing that gives her no unfair advantage and that is no less dangerous than an untucked shirt is simply absurd, especially when you see that FIFA had no problem allowing the same clothing in an international match a few months ago.
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Category: World Football
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Comments
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It’s freakin’ cold in Canada. I’d probably wear one of those just to stay warm on the pitch. Seriously though, if they let Petr Cech wear a rugby helmet, why can’t this girl wear her headscarf? Sounds like the ref woke up on the wrong side of the bed.
Posted from
United States
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There is a real easy answer to why she wasn’t allowed to play: It’s the refs decision. Don’t like it, go play some other sport where refs have less control over the game.
Posted from
United States -
you can’t play the game if you don’t want to follow the rules. this is so ridiculous i can’t believe it even makes the news.
Posted from
Canada
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