UK: Muslim Footballer Denied Playing Due to Tracksuit Bottoms

IQNA – A Muslim women’s football coach was left visibly distressed after being barred from participating in a match because of her choice to wear tracksuit bottoms rather than shorts, a decision tied to her religious beliefs.

Iqra Ismail, 24, a resident of west London and a dedicated refugee advocate, recounted the incident, which occurred during her debut match with the Regent’s Park grassroots team, United Dragons FC. Having signed with the team, Ismail was ready to play her first game on Sunday against an east London team.

Recalling the event, Ms. Ismail, who captained Somalia in 2019 and founded Hilltop FC, told the BBC: “I was warmed up, I was ready to go. I came on at half time, and the referee told me that I wouldn't be able to play unless I was wearing shorts.”

For nearly five years, Ms. Ismail has competed in the same league while wearing tracksuit bottoms, adhering to her religious preference for modest clothing.

“I told him that I wasn’t comfortable wearing shorts in any capacity,” she explained, noting that she had never worn shorts in competitive play.

“It was a shock to me that the referee took such a strong stance on it,” Ismail said, adding that she felt deeply upset as the game continued without her participation. “My teammates and the manager were very supportive. Everyone has been devastated.”

Ms. Ismail, who has been involved in football since the age of eight, typically plays wearing a long-sleeve top, team shirt, sports hijab, tracksuit bottoms, and standard safety gear like shin pads, according to The Standard.

After the incident, she posted about her experience on Instagram, receiving supportive messages from within the football community and endorsements from major brands, including drinks company Lucozade.

The incident has also drawn attention from anti-discrimination charity Kick It Out, which issued a statement saying, “We’re so sorry to hear this, Iqra. Thanks to all those who have reported this to us.” The organization confirmed it has escalated the reports to relevant authorities, calling for an urgent investigation.

Meanwhile, the FA said that women players across its competitions are allowed to wear clothing that follows their religious beliefs.

"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, Reuters reported. 

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

Source: Agencies

By Elham Nazirzadeh