Not sure if anyone has been following this controversy but Fifa just won't leave this alone.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/08/14/AR2010081401219.html
Personally I think Sepp Blatter sounds like an idiot and those who ruled that the hijab was not only dangerous during play but also unacceptable because it made a political and religious statement are making a very powerful statement as well: because a woman happens to be born in a Muslim country or to a Muslim family or converts and chooses to wear the hijab for personal reasons or must wear it because of political reasons cannot participate in a sport on the international level. Should we start fining players every time they make the sign of the cross when enter the field or score a goal?
Our friend Sepp said it best, that, "It is very important for football, that football be played by and in all cultures. Especially at this level of the youths, and the Olympic idea, I think it's very important."
According to FIFA, the best way to do this is by making restrictions.
What I did find interesting is that FIFA allowed them to wear these "caps" or what looks like a winter beanie. It in a way put these women in uncharted territory, trying to negotiate between the demands of FIFA and the Islamic codes of Iran, or rather in this case, what constitutes a hijab in Islam. I'm sure that was a controversial topic, case and point when the Iranian woman, Marzieh Akbarabadi, who is in charge of all women's sports, marched off the field at the unveiling of the new "caps" in protest.
Again it is funny to follow FIFA's reasoning in all of this. Wearing a hijab is making a religious/political statement as well as poses a danger to the player or another player but as soon as you uncover the neck, the danger disappears and the players no longer are visually Muslim.
In the end, you have these girls who want to play and most likely don't care much about the politics around it all. Whatever your personal thoughts are on the hijab, the victims here are these young players who are good enough to play, want to play, and can't for absolutely no reason, pure discrimination and against every Olympic and fair play principles which actually, I have realized, are rarely ever present in any sort of Olympic event or FIFA sponsored event anyway.
