FIFA safety rules enacted last year allow women to wear “a cap that covers their head to the hairline, but which does not extend below the ears to cover the neck,” according to a statement released by FIFA Monday.
Iran’s coach chose to forfeit last Friday’s match with Jordan rather than dressing players in the smaller FIFA-approved head covering.
“Despite initial assurances that the Iranian delegation understood this, the players came out wearing the hijab, and the head and neck totally covered, which was an infringement of the laws of the game,” FIFA said.
