Football's world governing body FIFA on Saturday officially authorised the wearing of head covers for religious purposes in games
Iranian female footballers wear head scarves while training in Tehran last year. Pic/AFP
Zurich: Football's world governing body FIFA on Saturday officially authorised the wearing of head covers for religious purposes in games.
Iranian female footballers wear head scarves while training in Tehran last year. Pic/AFP
"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.
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This allows female muslims, who wear a veil in everyday life, to cover their heads at matches. Valcke said males can also do so following a request from Canada's Sikh community.
Wearing of head covers had been banned until 2012, with FIFA claiming they posed an injury risk to the head.