FIFA has ruled that Iran can’t participate in girls soccer in the new Youth Olympic Games because its rules prevent players wearing a hijab, the Islamic head scarf worn by girls and women toobserve Islamic dress code.
Iran’s national Olympic committee had called on FIFA and the International Olympic Committee to review the head scarf ban. FIFA secretary general JeromeValcke rejected the Iranian request in a letter to the national soccer federation.
FIFA maintains soccer’s international rule book which contains a section on players’ on-fieldequipment Law 4 states that “basic compulsory equipment must not have any political, religious or personal statements.”