FIFA rules male players can wear turbans

Zurich: Football's governing body has ruled that male head covers are acceptable to wear during matches, a decision that goes against Quebec's ban on turbans.

FIFA says male players can wear head covers as long as they are the same color as the team's shirt, have a "professional appearance", are not attached to the shirt and don't "pose any danger".

The Canadian football federation had asked FIFA to rule on the matter after Quebec refused to overturn its province-wide ban on turbans.

Quebec's director general of the provincial association, Brigitte Frot, had said that the provincial federation would allow turbans if FIFA indicated they were safe.

The ban particularly affected Sikh men and boys who wear turbans, patkas and keskis for religious reasons.