FIFA lifts ban on head covers for religious reasons

World football’s governing body FIFA has decided to allow the wearing of head covers for religious reasons during football matches.

The ruling was made following a meeting of the International Football Association Board (IFAB) in Zurich and will apply to male and female players.

The wearing of head covers had been banned, but a two-year trial started in 2012 has proved successful.

In 2011, Iran’s women’s team withdrew from an Olympic qualification match against Jordan in protest at not being allowed to wear headscarves.

There have also been calls from the Sikh community in Canada for the ban on the wearing of turbans to be lifted.

FIFA had claimed the wearing of head covers while playing competitive football posed too great a risk of injury to the head or neck.

However, following a request from the Asian Football Confederation, the IFAB allowed for their safety to be tested during the trial.

At the annual general meeting at FIFA’s headquarters, IFAB members also voted to introduce a new law that will punish players who display messages on T-shirts underneath their club’s kit.

The new rule change – which will come into effect from June 1^st – amends Law 4 of the game, which relates to players’ equipment.