Women's soccer team banned from playing at Olympics

[szh]

Let's see now ... instead of supporting women who are trying to make a difference in their country, they are banned from playing soccer . Had to forfeit their last game.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/ira ... llery.html

So ... do head-scarves prevent people from playing soccer? Does it give them an unfair advantage in some way? Maybe the women were hiding drugs under the scarves?

How about we eliminate all headbands in all other Olympic sports as well?

Z

[Bubba1]

I'm surprised FIFA only mentioned the banning was due to a "dress code violation", but did not explain what possible advantage a head scarf would give the Iranian players. I feel bad for the players who are in lose-lose situation. They either compromise their beliefs to play without their scarves, or not play at all. FIFA is off base.

[Eikon]

FIFA is retarded... instead of banning them from play, how about they give credit to those women. I'm sure they have a hard enough life trying to make it in their own country.

FIFAFAIL!!!

[AppleBonker]

Meh, I'm having a hard time getting upset about this one. Was the article incomplete or did I miss something? Many sports have dress codes, and a lot of the code has nothing to do with safety or performance (I know in high school swimming for me, piercings were not allowed - I saw one chick get disqualified for a tongue piercing). I need more information on how the head scarf is against the code. Is a yarmulke also banned? Can't say I've ever paid close enough attention to soccer.

What I find truly interesting is the apparent contradiction FIFA is making with their decisions. On one hand, they seem to be ok with angering a portion of the Muslim population by banning head scarves. On the other, they are trying to promote soccer in the Middle East by selecting Qatar to host the World Cup in 2022. Very contradictory...

[IBCoupe]

Lemme guess. One of those "Fs" stands for "French."

[szh]

Tongue piercings might have safety issues with infections in water perhaps? I'd disallow it in water-polo though ... accidental hands in someone else's mouth might be a safety issue.

And, I agree that if all head-gear were banned, then I would be less up about it. But it does not appear so - head-bands are certainly not banned for example! Yarmulkes I do not know about, but I seriously doubt that those would be banned.

Head-scarves are not a safety or performance issue here - it is clearly aimed at a particular group of people who did not deserve this kind of mistreatment.

Z

[AppleBonker]

Head-scarves are not a safety or performance issue here

I wasn't suggesting they were.

it is clearly aimed at a particular group of people who did not deserve this kind of mistreatment.

This is what I'm failing to see. I'd have to check the specific uniform regulations, and I'm just too busy/lazy to search them out right now.

Additionally, there is a lot of messed up stuff that happens throughout the world. This is not high on the list of things I have to get upset about.

[szh]

Head-scarves are not a safety or performance issue here

I wasn't suggesting they were.

Okay. I misinterpreted then.

it is clearly aimed at a particular group of people who did not deserve this kind of mistreatment.

This is what I'm failing to see. I'd have to check the specific uniform regulations, and I'm just too busy/lazy to search them out right now.

Additionally, there is a lot of messed up stuff that happens throughout the world. This is not high on the list of things I have to get upset about.

Understood.

Everyone is indeed entitled to their own particular priorities/choices for what they are/get upset about.

Z

[stebo0728]

Why are they playing soccer and not making sandwiches? *smh*

[AppleBonker]

Okay. I misinterpreted then.

It's all good. Why can't pro golfers wear shorts? Just the dress code; it has nothing to do with performance or safety.

I think the important question is as follows: What does the dress code limit? As in, are Muslims wearing head scarves the ONLY ones being "punished"?

Either way, FIFA is free to make their own rules and regulations. If this rule does, in fact, ONLY "target" Muslims, I would think they would have a lot more outrage on their hands and would be forced, politically, to adjust accordingly.

[n00b240]

http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/blog/f ... =oly-wp280

The above article talks about an alternative "Since Iran refused to comply with these rules and didn't use the specially designed caps that its 2010 Youth Olympics team wore..." Why couldnt they opt for the special caps used on the 2010 team?

2010 Youth Caps


Im not quite sure what the difference is. This is the current form



I dunno, IF it is a new design, I kinda feel like the team should have brought the design to FIFA for potential approval or disapproval

[bigbadberry3]

Played soccer collegiately, spin and power can be changed easily by what is on your forehead area (but I don't think they were trying to gain an unfair advantage). Safety wise, maybe worried about something being caught in one?

[Bubba1]

Played soccer collegiately, spin and power can be changed easily by what is on your forehead area (but I don't think they were trying to gain an unfair advantage). Safety wise, maybe worried about something being caught in one?

I imagine if the head covering were rubberized, I could see a rule, but to my knowledge FIFA has not explained why beyond a vague dress code violation.

[szh]

http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/blog/f ... =oly-wp280

The above article talks about an alternative "Since Iran refused to comply with these rules and didn't use the specially designed caps that its 2010 Youth Olympics team wore..." Why couldnt they opt for the special caps used on the 2010 team?

2010 Youth Caps


Im not quite sure what the difference is. This is the current form



I dunno, IF it is a new design, I kinda feel like the team should have brought the design to FIFA for potential approval or disapproval

According to what I read, when FIFA announced this ban back in April 2010 (I think), the Iranian team tried a new design, with head-scarves that would not have violated the rules.

Unsuccessfully, apparently!

Z

[mattblancarte]

Played soccer collegiately, spin and power can be changed easily by what is on your forehead area (but I don't think they were trying to gain an unfair advantage). Safety wise, maybe worried about something being caught in one?

Yep, this was my first thought. It's not fair to have any material on your forehead. Heading the ball is a crucial aspect of the game, especially at the professional level.

Cool to see another soccer player here. I'm almost 20 years into the game, and still playing on a competitive men's team right now.

[srellim234]

It looks like the difference in the caps is that the approved ones do not cover the back of the neck. As near as I can tell the issue came to light in Canada in 2007 when, citing safety concerns, they banned a girl from playing who was wearing a longer version. If the longer version is such a safety issue (the issue was strangulation, which has never occurred), shouldn't long hair below the ears also be banned?

[bigbadberry3]

Cool to see another soccer player here. I'm almost 20 years into the game, and still playing on a competitive men's team right now.

Hope you aren't a keeper

[mattblancarte]

Haha, no. I'm not well-suited for that position. I'm only 5'10" with average wingspan.

Midfielder/forward. How about you?

[Cold_Zero]

I think you guys are missing the bigger point. When did they start letting girls play football? j.k.

Use to be a fullback and backup goalie. Those were fun days as now I sit in front of a computer booo!

[s0m3th1ngAZ]

I'd imagine in a tussle they could fall off and obstruct game play somehow...but it does seem a little stonewallish to not negotiate on the matter.

[szh]

I'd imagine in a tussle they could fall off and obstruct game play somehow...but it does seem a little stonewallish to not negotiate on the matter.

From what I understand, but do not know for certain, it was designed to avoid falling off. It is not a wrapped "scarf" in that sense of the word.

Z