[url]http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2007/02/28/soccerhijab.html[/url]

[I]The governing body of world soccer will take up the case of an 11-year-old Ottawa girl who was ejected from an indoor tournament in Quebec for refusing to remove her hijab, or Muslim head covering....

Asmahan Mansour was told by a referee to remove her hijab because it violated Quebec Soccer Federation rules. When she refused, she was told to leave the field. Her team and four others walked out of the tournament in support.

Quebec sports officials defended the decision by the referee, who was also Muslim. Valerie Ouellet of the Quebec Soccer Federation said the referee was following guidelines laid down by FIFA, which prohibit players from wearing clothing or jewelry that might endanger the safety of themselves or others....

Quebec Soccer Federation officials said Muslim hijabs are specifically prohibited in tournaments and games because of the risk of a player being strangled by a loose bit of cloth.

But Mansour said she always wears her head scarf tightly tucked into her jersey. She had already played two games in the Montreal tournament without being asked to remove her hijab.

Ontario's soccer federation allows players to wear hijabs if they don't compromise the safety of players. [/I]

This is a tricky one. Perhaps some specialized sports equipment needs to be developed. Like a hijab-style head covering with a breakaway chin strap... But I think I have to agree with the ref's call, considering how the hijab is wrapped. There's nothing to prevent it from coming a little loose and then strangling. Granted it's a foul if you grab another player's clothing, but it might come lose in a spill...