Players Are Authorized to Wear Veils, Turbans during Matches – FIFA

The world football’s world governing body FIFA has officially authorized on Saturday wearing of head covers for religious purposes during matches.

 

“It was decided that female players can cover their heads to play,” said FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke at a meeting of the International Football Association Board (IFAB), the sport’s lawmakers, in Zurich.

"This move gives way for female Muslim players who wear a veil in everyday life to cover their heads during matches, while according to a request from the Sikh community of Canada, male players will also be authorized to do so.

 

“It was decided that male players can play with head cover too,” he said, although they will not be the same as those worn day to day.

 

“It will be a basic head cover and the color should be the same as the team jersey.”

 

The head covers trend, as requested by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), has been put on test over 2-year period and proved successful after it had been banned until 2012, with FIFA saying that they posed too great a risk of injury to the head or neck.

 

“It’s a worldwide authorization,” said Valcke, who confirmed that the hosting of the 2016 women’s under-17 World Cup by the Arab kingdom of Jordan played a part in the authorization being introduced.

 

“It was a plus for them to have authorization from the IFAB for women to be able to play (wearing head covers). It was a request from these (Muslim) countries that said it would help support women’s football there.”