Video: Muslim footballer Iqra Ismail announces return to playing in tracksuit bottoms following controversial exclusion

Female Muslim footballer Iqra Ismail has announced her return to the pitch, wearing tracksuit bottoms in line with her religious beliefs.

Earlier this week, Ismail faced exclusion from a United Dragons match for refusing to wear shorts.

In a recent X post, Ismail expressed gratitude for the overwhelming support and revealed discussions with senior FA and Middlesex County FA officials. They have been “really supportive” and are working to prevent similar incidents, she stressed.

“And I am pleased so say, as of this weekend, I will be back on the pitch playing football in my tracksuit bottoms. The journey doesn’t end here. I will continue to do my best moving forward to advocate for other women like me who just want a safe place to play football,” she added.

The Football Association apologized directly to Ismail following Tuesday’s incident in a Greater London Women’s Football League match. A referee had barred her from playing unless she wore shorts. Ismail, a 2019 Football Black List honoree and coach, was slated to substitute for United Dragons against Tower Hamlets FC at halftime.

In a video posted on social media, Ismail said: “The Greater London Women’s Football League have stopped me from playing because of my religious beliefs, because I refused to wear shorts with my playing kit.

“I have been playing in this league for almost five years now, wearing tracksuit bottoms, and every year they have made it more and more difficult for women like me to play.

“This year they have drawn the line and banned me from playing until I compromise my beliefs.

“The Middlesex FA referee for yesterday’s [Sunday’s] game said that the league had told him strictly not to allow women like me to wear tracksuit bottoms, regardless of the colour or whether it was matching our kit or not.”