By Neena Bhandari
Sydney, 06.06.2010 (WFS): As the winter sun descends, young girls warm up for football training in their shorts and shirts at the Lakemba Sport and Recreation Club (LSRC) in Sydney, Australia. Some are also wearing a ‘hijab’, or headscarf, the traditional Islamic accessory used to cover the head.
Although a common sight in multicultural Australia, the ‘hijab’ has come under the spotlight as soccer’s world governing body, the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), had banned it from competition in April this year. FIFA’s rules state that players may not wear jewellery or dangerous headgear such as hair clips, and that “basic compulsory equipment must not have any political, religious or personal statements”.