In an incident that has ignited discussions about inclusivity in English football, former Somalia national team captain and current grassroots player Iqra Ismail was barred from participating in a Greater London Women’s Football League (GLWFL) match. The reason: Ismail, a devout Muslim, chose to wear tracksuit bottoms over shorts to align with her religious beliefs. Ismail’s story quickly gained attention on social media, drawing responses from football organizations and calls for updated guidance on religious attire within the sport.
Heated Encounter on the Pitch
The controversy began when Ismail, a 24-year-old player and coach for the United Dragons, was ready to enter the field as a substitute in a match against Tower Hamlets. However, the match referee reportedly told her that wearing tracksuit bottoms instead of shorts went against league rules and that she would not be permitted to play unless she changed her attire. For Ismail, who has participated in this league for nearly five years wearing tracksuit bottoms, this sudden enforcement of the rule came as a shock.
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Speaking about the incident in an Instagram video, Ismail said, “I was told that I was not allowed to play football because of my religious beliefs.” She expressed frustration over the restrictive policies, noting that each season brought increasingly stricter regulations against wearing alternative leg coverings.
Greater London Women’s Football League
The incident prompted the GLWFL and the Football Association (FA) to re-evaluate their policies. The GLWFL initially explained that their understanding was that players could wear tights or tracksuit bottoms, provided they wore shorts over them to align with team colors. However, after the incident, the league issued a statement clarifying that wearing shorts over tracksuit bottoms is not required, and they committed to updating their guidance to ensure match officials support attire aligned with players’ faith or religious beliefs.
The FA also responded quickly, underscoring its commitment to inclusivity. An FA spokesperson stated that the organization had already issued guidance earlier in the year, explicitly permitting clothing that respects religious beliefs in women’s football. Following the incident, the FA reaffirmed its stance and communicated with the Middlesex FA, responsible for the GLWFL, to resolve the issue swiftly.
Broader Fight for Inclusivity in Women’s Football
Ismail’s situation highlights ongoing challenges faced by Muslim women and others from underrepresented groups in sports. In her video message, Ismail voiced how painful it was to be denied the opportunity to play, revealing, “I was so angry and frustrated, literally to the point of tears.” She noted that incidents like these are the very reason women’s football lacks diversity and why many women from similar backgrounds avoid competitive leagues.
As a player, coach, and refugee advocate, Ismail’s commitment to inclusive spaces within football is longstanding. She has advocated for safe, faith-friendly environments, such as hosting women-only, alcohol-free FA Cup viewing events for Muslim women. For her, the incident is a personal setback but also represents a bigger issue affecting many who share her beliefs.
Updated Guidance on Inclusivity
The FA and GLWFL have since expressed their intentions to ensure more inclusive regulations and have offered Ismail assurance that she may wear tracksuit bottoms moving forward. “We proactively wrote to all county FAs and match officials across the women’s grassroots game earlier this year to confirm that women and girls should be allowed to wear clothing that ensures their faith or religious beliefs are not compromised,” an FA spokesperson said.
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Ismail remains committed to advocating for others facing similar challenges, stating, “People say when you’re on the pitch, you’re a player, but I believe you should be able to bring your culture and your identity with you.”