French court says soccer federation can ban headscarves in matches

France's highest administrative court said Thursday the country's soccer federation is entitled to ban headscarves in competitions even though the measure can limit freedom of expression.

The Council of State issued its ruling after a group of headscarf-wearing soccer players called "Les Hijabeuses" — the word hijab refers to the headscarf — campaigned against the ban and launched legal action.

The ruling is likely to refuel the lingering debate on secularism — still volatile more than a century after the 1905 law on separation of church and state that established it as a principle of the French Republic.

The French soccer federation bans players from wearing headscarves and other religious symbols in official matches, as well as at competitions it organizes. It's not in line with the recommendations of soccer governing body FIFA, which authorizes players to compete at international level with headscarves.

The French federation said the ruling gave it the opportunity to "reaffirm the republican and civic values that underpin soccer, and its total commitment to combating all forms of discrimination and promoting gender equality."

The Council of State said sports federations "may impose on their players an obligation to wear neutral clothing during sporting competitions and events, in order to guarantee the smooth running of matches and prevent clashes or confrontation. It considers that the ban imposed by the FFF is appropriate and proportionate."

Unusually, the court did not follow its public rapporteur's recommendations, who earlier this week said Article 1 of the federation's rules should be annulled. The article prohibits "the wearing of any sign or dress ostensibly manifesting a religious affiliation," and applies to