Much has been said about religion and sports and ethnicity and another issue has been brought out to the media when International Basketball Federation (FIBA) informed that their rule bans all headwear on safety grounds.
Because of this, Qatar has withdrawn their women's basketball team from the Asian Games just before their first match.
Qatar and the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) has lashed out on FIBA because of this issue.
According to Ahlam Al Mana, head of Qatar's women's sports committee "FIBA didn't let our players play with the headscarves and so we had to withdraw from the tournament. What happened today is against International Olympic Committee goals which are meant to include countries from different cultures, and also it's against the slogan of the Asian Games in Incheon which is 'Diversity Shines here."
Al Mana said that they were aware of the ban but as hoping for the committee to change their mind. The headwear ban has already been relaxed at national level. He also said that other teams who were affected by the band did not pursue to joining the games.
Al Mana said "I'm pretty sure that what happened today can change FIBA rules quickly. Of course the OCA encouraged us to participate but this is a technical decision from FIBA. I hope in the near future they will allow us."
As of now, FIBA has not commented on the issue but OCA director general Husain Al-Musallam hit out over the hijab ruling. He said "The right of the athletes must be the highest priority. Every athlete has the right to represent their country's flag without discrimination or without the threat of a financial penalty."
A spokesperson for the Incheon Asian Games (IAGOC) told Reuters that organisers had no alternative other than to declare a forfeit because, "the rule that the players broke is International Basketball Federation rule 4.4.2, which talks about uniforms and what players can wear.
They said "The technical official asked them to remove the scarf and they refused, so the game was forfeited by Qatar."
Qatar was support to fight against Mongolia in the qualifying round at Incheon.
