The Football Association (FA) has issued an apology to Muslim football player Iqra Ismail after she was barred from participating in a Greater London Women’s Football League match for refusing to wear shorts due to her religious beliefs.
Ismail, who plays for United Dragons, was set to come on as a substitute during a game against Tower Hamlets on Sunday but was stopped by the referee because she was not wearing the required shorts.
In response to the incident, the FA has assured Ismail that she will be permitted to wear tracksuit bottoms in future matches to accommodate her religious practices.
In a video shared on social media, Ismail expressed her disappointment, stating, “The Greater London Women’s Football League have stopped me from playing because of my religious beliefs, because I refused to wear shorts with my playing kit.” She noted that she has been playing in the league for nearly five years while wearing tracksuit bottoms, highlighting that this issue has increasingly become problematic.
“Every year they have made it more and more difficult for women like me to play,” Ismail explained. “This year they have drawn the line and banned me from playing until I compromise my beliefs.”