FIFA to discuss incident of Muslim girl kept from playing because of head scarf

FIFA will discuss an incident involving an 11-year-old Muslim girl who was kept from playing in a soccer tournament in Canada because she was wearing a head scarf.

Photo: FIFA to discuss incident of Muslim girl kept from playing because of head scarf

Quebec's soccer federation said Asmahan Mansour was given the choice of taking off her hijab or not playing Sunday in the tournament near Montreal. The federation said wearing the hijab an Islamic veil or head scarf violates a no-headgear rule set down by the sport's governing body for safety reasons.

The federation noted the referee was also a Muslim.

FIFA spokesman Nicolas Maingot said the incident will be discussed Saturday in Manchester, England, during the annual meeting of the International Football Association Board.

"It is ultimately up to the referee to determine if an item or equipment worn by a player is dangerous for him or her or for the other players," Maingot said Wednesday.

The board is the only body able to make changes in the laws of the game, reports AP.

Maingot refused to comment on what amendment might be considered or even on what the current rules stipulate regarding the hijab, saying only that the Islamic veils are not specifically mentioned in FIFA's rules.