JOIN US Trying to douse the hurt sentiments of Sikh and Muslim players, the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) is ready to review its rule which prevents cagers from wearing headgear for religious reasons.
A controversy erupted at the FIBA-sanctioned Asia Cup in China this month after two Indian Sikh players were told to remove their turbans ahead of the game and the world governing body said on Saturday that its policy-making board will review the issue at an August 27 meet in Sevilla ahead of the World Cup.
“FIBA’s Central Board, which is ultimately responsible for changes to the Official Basketball Rules, will review these requests and decide how to proceed in the best interest of the sport,” the 214-nation governing body said in a statement.
Current FIBA rules prevent players wearing “headgear, hair accessories and jewellery,” allowing only a 5-centimeter headband to control hair and sweat.
“As a result, the wearing of a turban or a headscarf, just like any other object or accessory to be worn on a player’s head, is not authorised in official FIBA competitions,” said a FIBA release.