FIFA Rejects Iran Complaint over Islamic Scarf Ban

AP – ZURICH, FIFA says its match officials were right to stop Iran’s women’s team from playing a 2012 Olympic qualifier wearing Islamic head scarves.

Iranian officials were “informed thoroughly” before Friday’s match against Jordan that the hijab scarf covering a women’s neck is banned for safety reasons, FIFA says.

Iran’s soccer association has said it will complain about the FIFA delegate from Bahrain who ordered the match abandoned.

Jordanian officials accepted the rule and “decided not to select a number of players,” FIFA says.

FIFA banned the hijab in 2007 and has extended the safety rule to include neck warmers.

At the 2010 Youth Olympics, Iran’s girls protected their modesty by covering their hair with specially designed caps.