Question Number: 14926

Law 4 - Players Equipment 3/2/2007

RE: rec Adult

alex of richmond hill, on canada asks...

There was an incidence a few days ago in Quebec when a 11 years old girl was asked by the ref to remove her headscarf or she does not play. What makes this case special is she is Muslim which creates quite a stir.

What are your opinion on player's equipment when it is related to religions. There are contradictory information sayings whether the Canadian soccer association, and FIFA allowing/disallowing headscrafs (and any other items) of religious nature.

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

Doesnt matter what the equipment is for. If its unsafe, too bad it comes off or you do not play. Smilar to piercings on the body. Take it off or do not play.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

I don't know about canada but in the US, items of religious significance are allowed if deemed safe by the referee and the competition authorities are notified in advance.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

A report I read said that there is a sports-friendly head covering available, which this girl was *not* wearing.

Players may wear religious-required clothing or jewelry, provided that in the opinion of the referee it can be made reasonably safe. The referee, who also happens to be Muslim, decided that the hijab was not safe.

Note also that this exemption is only for *required* items. Don't wear cross-shaped earrings and attempt to argue they're exempted. I know of no denomination that requires a person to wear a crucifix.

It would also be wise for players who would be wearing religious attire or jewelry to get the items pre-approved. Take a letter from a clergyperson describing the requirement to the league and referee association, and show the item which will be worn. Then there will be a league-wide ruling made and the ref at the field can be presented evidence that "the ref last week allowed it". Note that the ref can still deem the item to be too dangerous, but the player has now given him information to help him make that decision.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

In October 2005 I refused permission for a U-12 player to wear a piece of string I considered a danger. Turns out it was "religious" in nature. Anyway the ensuing flap caused me to prepare a defense before the president of California Youth Soccer where my decision was upheld. I have not refereed, taught or assessed since that time. I feel the politically correct crap can go on without me.

If what a player is wearing constitutes a danger the player does not enter the field of play. It's that simple...

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

HI Alex,
just a warning I have strong personal opinions which may offend!
Those who are easily insulted best not read on!
I hold Muslim and Christian values on equal footings but both often times require a serious overhaul for the antics their followers engage in! I do not ridicule the faith of others nor disreguard their political ideals but neither do I accept what some say as necessary is or is not.

Quebec is always in nationalist frenzy when protecting their cultural identity of language and religion from outside influence especially English. Immigrants are pressured to conform to the QUEBEC version of independance and distinguished society rather than embrace the multicultural mozaic of the rest of Canada. It would not surprise me that locally there could be policies enacted to ban the religious head coverings similar to the controversy in France with the school systems and uniforms.

It should be noted that bandanas are a head covering for women or men who could be bald and can protect from the sun rays as cancer is a very real threat and a bit of material pose no danger to anyone. I think the reason the Muslim headscarf was looked on as unsuitable by the referee in this case is it not only covers the head but also goes around the neck. What I would like to know and perhaps those familar with Islamic clothing could tell me are there versions of headscarfs that do not need to go around the neck?

In Britsh Columbia another province of Canada the Sikh head covering (Patka/Keski) a casual sports or leisure head covering not so bulky as the others more suited to playing soccer. This was disallowed at another tournament by a referee who thought it was a policy to disallow head coverings the same as hats.
The problem was, as it is here, it is NOT a policy. Nor is a turban a hat.

I am generally unsympathetic to those that feel extra stuff for religious values must be worn to show faith or appreciation for our lives.. Personally I feel these religious items are more man made inspiration than divine intentions but that is another matter. Those that wish to follow the historical lineage of their ancestors are allowed to do so under our charter of rights.

The Hijab or square headscarf is a version of the Khimar which in the Qur'an refers to Islamic women's head -dress and is the most important item representing Islamic modesty and Islamic womenhood. I believe Hijab comes from the Arabic word " haya" meaning modesty. There is a version of headscarf called Chanis? that is less material but pyramid in shape. I could be misinformed but the head covering extends inside the soccer jersey covering the chest area as well and is not likely to pop out as might a chain around the neck!

There is no specific directive by FIFA or the Canadian national association that absolutely forbids the wearing of a turban , head scarf or even a headband for excessive sweat or as an ear warmer, toque or wool cap for cold weather, baseball cap for sunny hot days or for other religious or even medical reasons .. There are even SPECIFICALLY designed foam head gear especially for injury prevention in soccer. While it is debatable if these are needed

Nothing in law prevents head covering unless in the opinion of the referee they are unsafe or used unsafely!

Because each referee is a MATCH condition" they likely have a different tolerance level or understanding of the issues! Players are subject to a different interpretation for specific things deemed unsafe!

FIFA decree
Safety
A player must not use equipment or wear anything that is dangerous to himself/herself or another player (including any kind of jewellery).
All items of jewellery are potentially dangerous.
The term ?dangerous?can sometimes be ambiguous and controversial, therefore in order to be uniform and consistent any kind of jewellery has to be forbidden.
Players are not allowed to use tape to cover jewellery.
Taping jewellery is not adequate protection.
Rings, earrings, leather or rubber bands are not necessary to play and the only thing they can bring about is injury.
In order to avoid ?last minute? problems, teams should inform their
players in advance.
Non-Basic Equipment
? A player must not use equipment or wear anything that is dangerous to himself/herself or another player
? Modern protective equipment such as headgear, facemasks, knee
and arm protectors made of soft, lightweight, padded material are
not considered to be dangerous and are therefore permitted
? New technology has made sports spectacles much safer, both for
the players themselves and for other players

The phrase well if we use common sense unfortunately sense is used far too sparingly to be common. Law 18 the bendable mellowing of the laws to suit the needs of those playing. But remember a referee is held accountable if he FAILS to abide by the laws of the game. While it is nice to say that the laws of the game offer a referee immunity our sue happy society likes to find fault more than solutions!

FIFA Law 4 lists only the compulsory equipment that must be worn. Equipment not listed as compulsory in my opinion is not to be permitted unless: it does not constitute a danger to any player, including the wearer and there is a valid reason to allow it. Medical bracelets or religious decorations are considered valid IF the devices can be worn safely.

A wrist sweat band slipped over top a wrist med alert with the words medical bracelet on the sweatband to ensure someone look to see what the bracelet under it says. A thin easily breakable gold chain around the neck with a religious or med symbol fashion that is taped or placed inside a Velcro pocket inside the shirt adapted to safeguard the item from popping out or being torn away by a free hand getting under the thin breakable necklace.

Those that choose to establish the precedent, "I must wear this!" then must undertake the necessary steps to make it safe as well as spiritually valid.

As a religious item a man wearing a wedding ring a plain circle of gold or silver has far less damage potential than a ring that has projections encrusted with rubies or diamonds. But tell that to the German professional player who lost his finger when the ring finger got caught in the netting

Some leagues will not permit the use of traditional glasses only specially designed sports wear.

Glasses to improve vision are made of much better materials but that does not mean they are safe if impacted by a hard ball to the face yet a player trying to play without them faces a blurred playing field could be in greater danger.

A headscarf to keep hair in place is perhaps better than a elastic around a 16 inch ponytail that when a girl jumps up and whips her head the end of the hair catches the other girl's face.

I agree with my colleague Ref Fleischer being forced to be politically correct or forced to respect a religious covering if I feel it is not suitable goes against the grain of fairness that the game is universally supposed to be about. In some circles soccer is as near a religion as any religion given the antics and faith of the followers. But I grant you traditionalists often are reluctant to see a point of view other than one they are used to!

It is interesting the referee in the incident to which you speak was in fact referred to in the article as a fellow Muslim? Possibly he felt there were other forms of a headscarf that were better suited to sports play? Since most news articles are notoriously inaccurate perhaps true perhaps not? I read the player was red carded for wearing the item? Again likely a false story as telling a player the equipment must be made safe or taken off to be able to play is not a cardable offence. If there was a red card shown the referee would be incorrect in law for doing so IF for this reason.

I find the need for some to find grievous fault with such things to be the catalysts for discord rather than an acceptance of differences. Nothing about the way those who use religion as a tool to inflict guilt is good that is why in my opinion the business of religion in general sucks.
God is great, Allah is great but the add-ons of mankind to a simple message of peace and goodwill in my opinion organized religion becomes a wielder of power rather than the provider for the spiritual uplifting of only a select few and not the world in general.

Faith is wonderful as a motivator but truth as a belief system lends itself to versions of it suited to the needs of the ones who want it!

Cheers

Answer provided by Referee MrRef

Just a note:

This is from the IFAB Annual Meeting 3 March 2007:

-The wearing of a hijab is already covered by Law 4 on Players' Equipment.

The following questions were asked as a follow up to the above question...

See Question: 14939