Muslim States Applaud FIFA's Decision Overturning a Ban on Veil | ||
Muslim States Applaud FIFA's Decision Overturning a Ban on Veil he decision by world foot-balling authorities to over¬turn a ban on women soccer players wearing the Islamic head-scarf has been welcomed by sev-eral Muslim states. The International Football Asso-ciation Board (IFAB), custodians of the rules of football, overturned its 2007 ban on the Islamic headscarf, or hijab, which it had argued was un¬safe and increased the risk of neck injuries. New designs are secured with Velcro that experts have said eliminate the risk of serious injury. Critics said the ban promoted inequality at the highest level of the world's most popular game. Iran was at the forefront of the fight against the veil ban. It had complained to FIFA after its women's team was banned in June 2011 from playing in a quali¬fier against Jordan for the London Olympics. However, today all Muslim countries with women's soccer team welcome the FIFA's deci¬sion. "This decision, impatiently awaited, makes us very happy," said Sheikha Naima al-Sabah, the president of the women's sport¬ing committee for Kuwait's football federation. "It brings justice to female play-ers. Its positive impact will be direct on Kuwaiti women's enthusiasm to play football," Sabah added. The Kuwaiti women's football team, like those of the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Bahrain, plays in various international com-petitions. Oman does not field a women's team, neither does Saudi Arabia, the most conservative of six mon-archies in the Arabian Peninsula. Sabah said FIFA's decision es-tablishes new "respect for differ¬ent religions, with the veil ban be¬ing until now a barrier for Kuwaiti women". | ||
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