World basketball governing body FIBA has revised its earlier rule banning players from wearing headgear, a move that will enable India's Sikh players to wear turbans and play in the upcoming FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 Qualifiers in China.
The decision to overturn the controversial earlier rule that forced India's Sikh players - Amjyot and Amritpal Singh - to remove their turbans before the opening match at the FIBA Asia Cup in Wuhan, China, in 2014, was taken at the FIBA s first Mid-Term Congress on May 4, said a release from the Basketball Federation of India.
The FIBA Congress, constituted by representatives from 139 National Federations, unanimously ratified the FIBA Central Board's decision to allow players to wear headgear , a term that is intended to include turbans, hijabs and kippah, with a few conditions, according to BFI.
Three years ago FIBA relied on Rule 4.4.2 of the Official Basketball Rules 2014, as approved by the FIBA Central Board, to outlaw the use of turbans on the ground that the rule explicitly states that the use of "headgear, hair accessories, and jewellery" is not permitted, BFI said.
The decision evoked a strong public reaction across the world, gathered speed on social media, as #LetSikhsPlay and #FIBAAllowHijab began to trend. Several change.org petitions calling for a rule change garnered hundreds of thousands of signatures, BFI said.
The decision to ban headgear was also criticized by players from the Islamic and Jewish community, because it meant that they would not be allowed to wear hijabs or yarmulkes while taking the court, according to BFI.