IRAN’S WOMEN FOOTBALL TEAM BARRED FROM YOUTH OLYMPICS GAMES FOR WEARING HIJAB

By Zakaria Abdul Wahab

SINGAPORE, April 6 (Bernama) – Iran’s women football team has been barred by FIFA from participating in the inaugural Youth Olympic Games here in August for wearing of Islamic hijab.

FIFA said Thailand would now replace Iran in the football tournament in the
Games, which will officially start from Aug 14 to Aug 26, in the island
republic.

According to the Asian Football Confederation website, Iran was barred from
the tournament because of a FIFA directive with regard to players’ equipment.

It said FIFA had informed the Iran Olympic Committee that Thailand was
nominated to replace Iran.

FIFA decreed that the wearing of Islamic hijab was not in accordance with
the laws of the game.

In a letter to the Iran Football Federation, FIFA general secretary Jerome
Valcke wrote that after taking into consideration the clear position stated by
the National Olympics Council of Iran, FIFA had no choice but to take the
decision that the Iran Football Federation would be barred from the Games.

About 3,600 athletes aged between 14 and 18 will compete in 26 sports and
cultural events during the Games.

-– BERNAMA