Paris (EFE) union.
In an opinion, the supreme body for administrative disputes, considers that it is up to the federations to establish the rules of participation in their competitions or in their sporting events to “guarantee the safety of the players and respect for the rules of the game.”
This means that “the rules of participation issued by these federations may limit their freedom of expression and their opinions and convictions to guarantee the proper functioning of the public service and the protection of the rights and freedoms of others.”
In short, the Council of State concludes that “to guarantee the proper development of football matches and avoid any confrontation or confrontation”, the FFF can establish a ban like the one in force since 2016.
No signs, no clothes
According to this provision, you cannot participate in football competitions with signs or clothing that ostensibly manifest your political, philosophical, religious or union convictions, nor is any act of “proselytism” or “propaganda” authorized.
Two groups that defend rigorous Islamic practices, supported by the Human Rights League, had appealed to the highest contentious administrative body to annul these prohibitions, alleging that this restricted their freedom.
The group of activists “Hijabeuses”, created in 2020 to promote that Muslim women can play football with a veil, argued that this outfit is also a cultural symbol and complained of discrimination to the extent that signs of other religions, visible in tattoos of certain footballers, did not give rise to veto measures.
In defense of their positions, the “Hijabeuses” noted that FIFA has authorized the use of the veil in international competitions since 2014.
Against the positions of this group, among others, in addition to the FFF itself, had spoken out, Frédéric Thiriez, former president of the French Football League, and representative of the Women’s League of International Law (LDIF), who insisted that the The veil “is not a symbol of belonging but of submission, of a sexual apartheid.”
The use of the veil and other clothing to hide the woman’s body has been the subject of various controversies in France in recent years.
One of the most recent episodes has been the use of the “burkini”, a full-body bathing suit worn by some Muslims and banned from French public swimming pools by an opinion of the Council of State.
In France, a 2004 law prohibits teachers, employees of the Administration or students of public schools from wearing obvious religious signs, such as the Islamic veil, but also the Jewish kipa or large crucifixes.
Nor can you wear the burqa in public space because it is prohibited to go with your face hidden.