FIFA Should Have Overruled Quebec On Hijab Ban: Ejected Ottawa Girl's Mother

"If you play football, there's a set of laws and rules, and law 4 outlines the basic equipment," said Brian Barwick, chief executive of the English Football Association, which is one of the board's members. "It's absolutely right to be sensitive to people's thoughts and philosophies, but equally there has to be a set of laws that are adhered to, and we favour law 4 being adhered to." Law 4 states that players "must not use equipment or wear anything that is dangerous to himself or another player (including any kind of jewellery)." IFAB is the branch of the Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) - soccer's world governing body - in charge of rules. Maria Mansour, the girl's mother, said the ejection "humiliated" her daughter. She hoped the IFAB would be sensitive to the issue. "As far as the decision, it is disappointing because... IFAB should clarify and be more sensitive to these cases," Maria Mansour said Saturday by telephone from Ottawa. "I truly think they should have (overridden) what Quebec's rule is. (Asmahan) is still hoping that Quebec will remove that rule someday so she will be able to play (in Quebec). "There's nothing that has been accomplished." http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Canada/2007/03/03/pf-3691322.html [Proofreader's note: this article was edited for spelling and typos on March 5, 2007]

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