Yesterday, the International Football Association Board (IFAB), chaired by FIFA President Sepp Blatter for a special session in Zurich is met. Discussion was mainly about the pros and cons of the headscarf. Unanimously, they have lifted the ban eventually.

Rarely, the Football League brought to heated debate over a piece of cloth out as the running head scarf debate. It is five years that FIFA against the head scarf - decided for security reasons, as it was called. It was since then not permitted to deny tournaments with a hijab Muslim women. An end to the debate did not, instead she came last year really rolling: the women's football players preparing on the qualification for the Olympic Games in London, among them players from the Iran. The team traveled to Jordan and joined dressed with headscarf. Result: FIFA disqualified the team. This game, like the subsequent games, scored 3-0 against the Iran. Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was angry over the disqualification, described the decision as "inhuman" and called the FIFA a bunch of dictators. In the case of Iran or Saudi Arabia, it is the State itself, which imposes a strict dress code to the women. The Islamic Republic of Iran forbids them to play custom-friendly headgear without.

Considering this case but again, then not even primarily involves the ladies from the Iran. Three women from the Jordanian team did not allow for the Olympic Games, she wore a headscarf. Here it gets interesting: Jordan is one of the countries that has a predominantly Muslim population, writes a head scarf but no one above. 93% Of the population is Muslim; Nevertheless, women wear headscarf or not. So also in soccer: while eight women wear a headscarf, three of the players to be. It may be coincidence that prompt the Vice-President of FIFA, Jordan's Prince Ali bin Al-Hussein, the case took on. Finally, one does not bear in Jordan, that would violate own women by FIFA. With vehemence, he rolled up the new case, shot his project forward. Already in December 2011, he went before the FIFA and asked to reconsider the ban. FIFA must ensure to exclude anyone from the sport. It was about time to break new ground, to revisit the structures of world football and not to close against innovations.

Headscarf as a cultural symbol

As Jordan's Prince Ali bin Al-Hussein appeared before the FIFA, especially his argument was exciting, he formulated for the headscarf: FIFA in the past strongly against discrimination committed. This is one of the reasons who spoke against the headscarf, because finally, in some countries, women oppressed and forced to cover themselves. It was important, however, that FIFA had expressed religious symbols against any. On the course, everyone should be equal, should any differences there are, nor religious. Thus, she banned all religious symbols, even the headscarf. Jordan's Prince argued that the headscarf itself was not religious, but a cultural icon. Here, it was not countries like the Iran at the pillory but FIFA, because she close all the women from international football, opting for the veil.

FIFA has patiently listened to the Prince and even agreed to at the end. In March of this year, one stepped forward before the rule of guardians, the International Football Association Board IFAB. Here he presented immediately appropriate models that could be worn by ladies in the future. With the condition that FIFA Chief Medical Officer Michael H'ooghan which must examine Bandanas on their sports fitness, voted on March 4 for the wearing of the headscarf.


All should be equal in the square

Such a statement, of course, provoked excitement. Prompt three women's organizations to speak, who wrote a letter of FIFA; reported in France above all the militant feminist Anne Sugier, President of LDIF founded by Simone Beauvoire (Ligue du droit international des femmes). Here, it was said that the veil is a religious symbol which stand for oppression and it could not support the FIFA. The Western feminists were visibly upset that FIFA would adapt global sporting rules to Islamic laws. In the following months, always conservative Christians and feminists say are reported. Just the women in the Arab world is fighting for more rights and then comes the FIFA and turns on the side of the oppressor? The demand not only encountered resistance. In March, UN Special Representative Willi Lemke in the debate intervened and demanded a headscarf with Velcro as a compromise.

The IFAB did not confuse the voices. You decided yesterday in Zurich unanimously for a first test phase. In October cuts and design will be voted in Glasgow on substances. Designers from all over the world presented their sport suitable for cuts in the past few months. They tested were H by FIFA Chief Medical Officer Michael'ooghan. Many models convinced him not: he feared the cloths could tie, choke, and above all cause overheating. However, on Monday he announced: "I no longer have the problems I had before with the headscarf." Which of the models has convinced him at the end, is not revealed yet. "The question no longer is whether players may or may not wear headscarves. In the future it is only to the design and color, where headscarves are allowed", FIFA General Secretary Jerome Valcke said. The final vote whether the headscarf is sport suitable for at the end, takes place next year at the annual general meeting. Until then, the test phase be completed and should a medical catalog are available.