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

By Esra Taskin

PARIS (AA) – France's top administrative court on Thursday upheld a ban on Muslim women football players wearing headscarves or Hijab during matches.

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.

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

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