FIFA Authorize Veils, Turbans During Matches After Protest

FIFA today has officially authorised the use of head covers for religious reasons during football matches for both male and female. It concluded today after a two-year trial proved that ‘wearing of head covers while playing competitive football posed too great a risk of injury to the head or neck’ as suggested by FIFA officials in 2012, proved not to be true. Iran’s women team protested for not being allowed to wear head scarves and withdrew from an Olympic qualification match against Jordan in 2011 while Canada also asked for the ban of head scarves and turbans to be lifted that same year. The decision was concluded today in Zurich after international Football Association Board members met.

The secretary general of FIFA, Jarome Valcke said: “It was decided that female players can cover their heads to play. Male players can play with head covers too. It will be a basic head cover and the colour should be the same as the team jersey” he said. The change will come into effect from June 1, 2014.