Mr. Joseph Blatter
President

Mr. Jerome Valcke
Secretary General

Federal International Football Association (FIFA)
Zurich, Switzerland



Dear President Blatter and Secretary General Valcke:

We write to object to your decision prohibiting an Iranian Women’s National Team from wearing traditional hijabs and track pants while participating in the pre-Olympic trial match in Jordan.  The team members wished to wear these items for modesty reasons related to their religion.  We hope that you will reconsider and reverse this injustice for future tournaments.

This rigid application of your rules concerning uniforms has had the direct consequence of excluding Islamic and other religious women from playing in FIFA-sanctioned events or requiring them to compromise their religious principles.  In addition to likely contravening a number of international legal prohibitions on religious discrimination, the decision stands in stark contrast to FIFA’s stated goal of “building a better future” and using sports to achieve positive social change by fighting negative influences and ensuring that fundamental values are respected. Specifically, the decision clashes with Article 3 of the FIFA Statutes, which states that “Discrimination of any kind against a country, private person or group of people on account of ethnic origin, gender, language, religion, politics or any other reason is strictly prohibited and punishable by suspension or expulsion.”

Religious observance is of fundamental importance, and must be respected, and is no less so for athletes in international competition. In regard to safety concerns, the hijab was allowed in international play consistently by FIFA through 2007 and there were no cases of choking or serious injury caused by a hijab worn during a match.

In short, the decision appears to be without justifiable foundation and has the consequence of deeply troubling and possibly unlawful discrimination.  FIFA states that “the world is a place rich in natural beauty and cultural diversity, but also one where many are still deprived of their basic rights. FIFA now has an even greater responsibility to reach out and touch the world, using football as a symbol of hope and integration.”

We urge you to join with the Badminton World Federation and FIBA to stand against discrimination, acknowledge that the decision was ill-advised and reverse your position for future FIFA events.