Dubai, May 3: The Iranian girls football team can compete at the Youth Olympics as long as their players swap their traditional head scarves for a cap that covers their hair, Fifa said on Monday.
The compromise comes after Fifa initially barred the team from participating last month over their insistence on wearing head scarves. Fifa barred hijab scarves in 2007 for safety reasons and to prevent political or religious statements on the field.
“This decision was taken after both the Iran Football Federation as well as the Iran National Olympic Committee confirmed in writing that they will accept a solution whereby the players will not wear their Islamic hijab during the matches of the competition,” Fifa said in a statement.
“Instead, the players can wear a cap that covers their heads to the hairline, but does not extend below the ears to cover the neck.”
Farideh Shojaei, deputy head of Iran’s football federation, said the under-15 players were thrilled with the ruling. “We are very happy. We are hopeful to have a good presence in the coming competitions,” Shojaei said.