French Muslim Women Footballers Fight Ban on Religious Headwear in Official Matches

"Because I wear a veil on my head, I am not allowed to play football in official matches. I find it sad that in 2020 in France, we can set aside people because of their religious beliefs," laments a veiled footballer.

Faced with this ongoing situation, they have created the "Les Hijabeuses" collective to assert their rights. "We would like to appeal to the French Football Federation regarding its regulations on the wearing of the veil in competition in France," says Founé Diawara, a footballer and co-founder of the collective.

While the wearing of the veil has been authorized at the Olympic Games since 1996, and by FIFA since 2014, this is not the case with the French Football Federation (FFF). It prohibits "any sign or outfit ostentatiously manifesting a religious affiliation."