Soccer’s international governing body clarified its position on turbans on Friday, saying that it permits players in Canada to wear the Sikh headwear.

The clarification from FIFA comes after a controversial move by the Quebec Soccer Federation to ban patkas, keskis and turbans, citing safety issues and the fact that FIFA had not specifically endorsed the headwear.

While the QSF said it welcomed the clarification "with enthusiasm and relief," it did not immediately lift the ban.

“Since the start of the dispute, the Quebec Soccer Federation sought a clear position from FIFA on the subject, which we didn’t have until this statement,” the group said in a statement.

The QSF said it will hold a press conference Saturday morning, where it’s expected the group will lift the turban ban.

According to FIFA, the head cover must meet the following conditions:

  • Be the same colour of the jersey
  • Maintain a professional appearance
  • Cannot be attached to the player’s jersey
  • Not pose any danger to the player or others players

Earlier this week, the Canadian Soccer Association suspended the Quebec group over its stance on turbans.

Despite widespread outcry over the ban, and the clarification from FIFA, Quebec Premier Pauline Marois maintained Friday that the CSA has no business meddling in Quebec’s affairs.

“I think that it’s not acceptable from the Canadian Soccer Association to decide to control the Quebec Federation of Soccer,” she said.

Prem Singh Vinning, the president of the World Sikh Organization said his group welcomed FIFA's declaration.

“It’s great news,” he told CTV News Channel. “But we’ve been always clear that we really didn’t need FIFA to tell us from Switzerland that our children can play soccer in Quebec or anywhere in this country.”

He said it always seemed to clear in the statements that FIFA had made before on uniforms that turbans were acceptable.

The Canadian Soccer Association, too, never seemed unclear on the matter, Vinning said.

“The Canadian Soccer Association, which represents FIFA, had made their ruling and had made it very clear what the FIFA rules were,” he said.

Vinning added that his group looked forward to a “positive decision” from the QSF, and said that if they chose to lift the ban, they should also re-open registration to allow Sikh players the chance to play this season.

Members of the Sikh community had been planning a solidarity soccer match in Montreal on Saturday morning. That event, called “Let the Kids Play,” is still scheduled to go ahead, only with a different tone given today’s developments.

Amar Magon told CTV Montreal on Friday that his turban was never an issue as a young soccer player.

“Soccer belongs to the world and whether it’s a turban or no turban, no kids should be stripped of that,” he said.

Magon said he is expecting 400 people to turn out to a Sunday game, where people of all ethnicities and religions are welcome to play.

“It’s for awareness,” he said. “Just to say that ‘turban or no turban, everybody should be allowed to play,’”

Meanwhile, at least 20 soccer teams from outside Ontario have announced they will be skipping a tournament in Montreal.

Edouard Saint-Lo, president of the Lac St-Louis Soccer Association, said the weekend tournament is “a real mess.”

“Most of those teams have been informed that they cannot travel to Quebec,” he said.

With a report from CTV Montreal