Thursday June 29 France’s top administrative court upheld a ban on female football players wearing Islamic headscarves (hijab)

LDIF (La Ligue du Droit International des Femmes) is relieved that the French court has clearly validated Article 1 of the French Football Federation (FFF) statutes prohibiting “the wearing of items ostensibly displaying a political, philosophical, religious or trade union affiliation”, in reference to rule 50.2 of the Olympic Charter imposing strict neutrality on the field. 

The court ruling is not founded on secularism, a French specificity, but on the “regulatory power” given to sports federations such as the FFF, in the areas defined by the Code of Sports. LDIF as a party supporting the FFF was represented  by M° THIRIEZ whom we thank for his fine arguing of the spirit of sports and the law. 

The rules set by the IOC and FIFA imposing strict neutrality for the players have not been modified, even though those bodies have turned a blind eye at the discriminatory conditions imposed by the Islamist theocracies to women in sports competitions (body covered from head to toe, male guardian, etc..). 

Prohibiting the wearing of the hijab in sports competitions in France also shows solidarity with Iranian and Afghan women  fighting not to wear it, many athletes choosing exile (see  brochure Paris 2024).

Next step: get all the French Olympic federations to follow suit with the FFF.

Press release in French

Annie Sugier, President Ligue of International Rights for Women, Association founded by Simone de Beauvoir www.ldif.asso.fr;