New wear for Iran girl athletes

FIFA says it will allow the Iranian girls' football team to take part in the Youth Olympics if players wear caps for covering hair instead of headscarves.

The world football governing body said in a Monday statement that the Football Federation of the Islamic Republic of Iran (FFIRI) had agreed to the decision. The FFIRI has not yet commented on the report.

"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.

"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."

In line with a 2007 ban on wearing headscarves, FIFA barred the Iranian team from taking part in the 2010 Youth Olympic Games in Singapore.

The decision drew much criticism from Iranian officials, who have stressed that wearing headscarves does not pose any difficulty for Iranian women athletes.

Around 3,600 athletes aged 14-18 will compete in 26 sports at the First Summer Youth Olympic Games, which will be held August 12-25 in Singapore.

Source: PressTV.
Link: http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=125298§ionid=3510211.