Hong Kong: Basketball players will be allowed to wear headgear for religious reasons after world governing body FIBA on Thursday approved a new rule to come into effect from October 1.
“The new rule comes as a result of the fact that traditional dress codes in some countries, which called for the head and/or entire body being covered, were incompatible with FIBA’s previous headgear rule,” FIBA said in a statement.
Qatar’s women’s team withdrew from the 2014 Asian Games in South Korea after being denied permission to wear the hijab on court.
In the same year, FIBA also ran into trouble when Sikh players from India were forced to remove their turbans at the Asia Cup in China and had to tie their hair with elastic bands.
The decision, which overturns a 20-year ban on religious head coverings that was originally imposed for safety reasons, was ratified by Swiss-based FIBA’s Mid-Term Congress in Hong Kong.
FIBA began a two-year revision and testing period in September 2014, granting exceptions at national level.
It’s central board approved a modification to the rule after receiving a report in January.
The Mid-Term Congress singled out, as a historical moment, a test game in Iran on April 13 that featured women wearing hijabs and “marked the first time men witnessed a women’s sporting event in person.”
FIBA said the new rule, which would also allow turbans and yarmulkes, would minimise the risk of injury while ensuring uniform was of a consistent colour.
The headgear must be black or white, or of the same dominant colour as that of the uniform, and the same colour for all players on a team.
It must not cover any part of the player’s face entirely or partially, can have no opening or closing elements around the face and neck or pose a danger to any player.
Other sports, including soccer, already allow players to wear headgear during matches.
— Agencies
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