LONDON: England’s Football Association (FA) said women players across its competitions are allowed to wear clothing that follows their religious beliefs after former Somalia captain Iqra Ismail was prevented from playing a match for not wearing shorts.

Ismail, who is also a coach, said in an Instagram video that she had been playing in the Greater London Women’s Football League (GLWFL) for five years wearing tracksuit bottoms but on Sunday she was not allowed to come on as a substitute for United Dragons.

“The Middlesex FA referee for yesterday’s game said that the league had told him strictly not to allow women like me to wear tracksuit bottoms... if it matches our kit or not,” Ismail, a Muslim, said. “If we do not wear shorts, we cannot play. That is what I was told yesterday.”

The FA said that they were aware of the matter and were in contact with the Middlesex FA to ensure it is quickly resolved.

“We proactively wrote to all county FAs and match officials across the women’s grassroots game earlier this year to confirm that women and girls should be allowed to wear clothing that ensures their faith or religious beliefs are not compromised,” a spokesperson from the FA said on Wednesday.

The Middlesex FA said they were in contact with the FA and the league to resolve the matter.

“Guidance from the FA was issued to all County FAs and match officials across the women’s grassroots game earlier this year to confirm that women and girls should be allowed to wear clothing that ensures their faith or religious beliefs are not compromised,” a spokesperson said.

The GLWFL said in a statement it was their understanding that players were required to wear shorts on top of clothing that covered their legs.

“However, we have since been made aware that shorts on top of tracksuits or tights are not required... we will be providing this updated guidance to all our match officials and members,” the league wrote on X.

Published in Dawn, October 31st, 2024