The Iranian Women's Soccer Team May No Longer "Bend It Like Beckham"

A little over two weeks ago, the Iranian women's soccer team was forfeited right before a qualifying match against Jordan for the 2012 London Olympic Games. Jordan automatically won the match 3 - 0, as a result. In consequence of FIFA's rules, the young women were unintentionally humiliated, as they were told to "pretend to practice until they were told they had to forfeit". The women then had to sit through games and watch other teams play. 

 

The dispute was over the headscarves (Also known as 'hejab') worn by the Iranian team, which is required under Iran's Islamic dress code for women. The code calls for women to cover their body from head to toe. As always, the Iranian team appeared in full tracksuits, neck-warmers, and headscarves -- something done since the team's inception in 2006. 

 

FIFA banned religious symbols/statements on the soccer pitch in 2007 to prevent influence and for safety reasons. Officials of the international football association, FIFA, claimed Iran violated the association's dress code of safety. Shahrzad Mozafar, the team's former head coach claims, “This ruling means that women soccer in Iran is over.” If the team is banned from wearing headscarves, the Iranian regime will not be able to send their women abroad as it does not abide by Iran's Islamic law.

 

The array of reactions to the media story not known by many caused me to look for answers. Luckily, I was able to contact one of the young women and ask how they felt about FIFA's ruling on Iran's women soccer team. I was assured that the upset was not targeted at Iran, but rather a campaign set up by the President of FIFA, Sepp Blatter, and his emphasis on having the players wear "shorter and tighter" outfits. "He pretty much wants to bring more attention to women soccer through this gesture."

 

The news came as a shock when a Bahraini referee, equally upset and sympathizing with the young women, told them in Persian they had to forfeit. She had no say in the decision making, as it was the heads of FIFA who had decided on it. According to the player, FIFA claims to have sent out letters three weeks in advance to team, citing FIFA's new rule on Islamic headscarves during the game. Iran's team wasn't the only focus, three of Jordan's players were banned from participating due to headscarves as well. "The hejab is part of Iran's law and we respect it. The only thing that bothers me about wearing it is the material of our outfit, which is polyester."

 

This new ban will prevent Iran from playing western countries and allow only participation in Asiatic games. Some see this as a victory for women's rights in Iran, albeit this is not the case. A majority of the team come from lower income families who depend on them, and the opportunity to play on a national team was seen as a blessing. These young women live and breathe football -- for it to be taken away to an extent -- leaves not much left to do in a country plagued by an inflation of unemployed educated youth. If anything, the fact that these women were able to participate on a national league in a country ruled by Islamic Law is progressive. 

 

The story is bittersweet. Bitter, for potentially corrupting the hopes and dreams of a random few, but sweet for putting the team on the map; many did not know an Iranian women's soccer team existed, until now.

 

Human rights and oppression aside, this move by FIFA ha the entire country unified on one aspect: the right for women to play soccer with headscarves. In a country divided by its human rights and economic issues, its women soccer league has become a symbol of Iranian pride supported from the common citizen to the Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. 

 

Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein of Jordan, who recently assumed the role as vice president of FIFA, vowed to seek a resolution and have the headscarf ban lifted. “Football is about fair play and respect and I am confident that we can resolve this issue,” he said. Iranian President Ahmadinejad echoed similar rhetoric, to an extent. "These are the dictators and colonialists who want to impose their lifestyle on others," Ahmadinejad said. "We will deal with those who carried out this ugly job. We follow definite rights of our girls."

 

On a local level, this would have been considered a form of discrimination and would have been taken to court. The world of soccer is a different realm, nevertheless, yet girls should not have to be stopped from playing sports. A dangling necklace is understandable as a safety hazard, but a headscarf?

 

The story remains intricate. If Iran did recieve this letter of notification as FIFA claims, what could possibly have had them send the girls sent over in headscarves? Did they misunderstand the letter, never recieve it, ignore it and use the girls as ponds? It seems unclear for the time being. Regardless, if FIFA continues to impose a certain dress on the women players, it may start losing players from the Middle East and North Africa.