France’s top court upholds Hijab ban on women footballers in matches

On Jun 30, 2023

(FILES) Women calling themselves the "Hidjabers" play football in the Luxembourg garden facing the French Senate in Paris on January 26, 2022 as a protest after senators voted last week in favour of a ban of the wearing of religious symbols during events and competitions organised by sports federations. The government is "totally mobilised" to ensure respect for secularism in sport, Elisabeth Borne said on June 27, 2023, after the public rapporteur had defended the possibility for female footballers to wear the hijab on the pitch before the Conseil d'Etat. (Photo by BERTRAND GUAY / AFP)

RELIGIOUS NEWS AGENCY (REDNA) – France’s top administrative court on Thursday upheld a ban on Muslim women football players wearing headscarves or Hijab during matches.

“The Muslim News” reported the Council of State rejected the collective Muslim women footballers known as “Les Hijabeuses” appeal against the French Football Federation’s (FFF) decision on the 2016 headscarf ban.

The court ruled that the FFF can enforce the first clause of its bylaws, which prohibits players from wearing religious symbols, including headscarves, during matches.

“Sports federations, in charge of proper functioning of the public service whose management is entrusted to them, may impose on their players an obligation of outfit neutrality during competitions,” the court in a statement said.

The court said sports federations are subject to an “obligation of impartiality” and that employee of the federation should not express their personal beliefs and opinions.

The court ruled that the FFF could include the ban in the first article of its bylaws in order to ensure that football matches are played smoothly and without any conflict.

Fighter, women football players will be unable to wear headscarves in FFF matches.

The statement said the ban is “appropriate” and “proportionate.”