AFC chief seeks Blatter support in hijab issue
Reuters - Wednesday 29 February 2012, 05:39
The Asian Football Confederation
(AFC) has sought FIFA President Sepp Blatter's support in
overturning the ban on the hijab when rule makers review the
decision on Saturday.
In a letter written to the FIFA boss, AFC acting president
Zhang Jilong pitched for a favourable reconsideration of the
issue when it is reviewed by the International Football
Association Board (IFAB) in London.
"It is our beholden duty to make the game accessible to
everyone across the globe and I request you to throw your weight
behind this righteous cause," China's Zhang wrote.
While Olympic sports such as rugby and taekwondo allow
Muslim women to wear the headscarf in competition, football remains against its use, citing safety concerns.
Last year the women's football team from Iran were prevented
from playing their 2012 Olympic second round qualifying match
against Jordan because they refused to remove their hijabs
before kick-off (pictured).
Iran, who had topped their group in the first round of
Olympic qualifiers after going undefeated, were given 3-0
defeats as a penalty which abruptly ended their dreams of
qualifying for the London Olympics.
IFAB, founded in 1886, is football's ultimate law-making body
comprising four members from FIFA and four from the British
associations.
FIFA Vice-President Prince Ali Bin Al-Hussein of Jordan will
present the case for allowing players to use a Dutch-designed
Velcro hijab which comes apart if pulled.
"During its meeting last November, the AFC executive
committee shared the concerns raised by the AFC women's
committee over the hijab issue and consequently a workshop was
held under the stewardship of Prince Ali to come up with a
worldwide solution," Zhang added in the letter.
"Though I fully understand the safety concerns and am in
agreement that the well-being of the players is of paramount
importance, I also believe that newly designed hijabs address
this aspect in its entirety."