Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1
Associate Professor, Department of Sport Management, Faculty of Physical Education and Sports Sciences, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran.
2
M.A in Sport Management, Department of Sport Management, Faculty of Physical Education and Sports Sciences, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran.
Abstract
Background and Purpose
Sports serve as a powerful platform for cultural solidarity, diplomacy, and social justice, yet global sporting standards sometimes conflict sharply with local cultural and religious norms. This study investigates the specific gap between international sports regulations and the lived realities of Iranian female athletes. Focusing on attire regulations, governing-body rules, institutional practice, and athletes’ psychological experiences, the research examines how these intersecting pressures affect access, performance, and representation at major events. The primary purpose is to identify and analyze the dimensions of the gap from the perspectives of athletes and coaches with firsthand international experience and to propose practical recommendations for reducing barriers. By centering voices of those directly affected, the study contributes empirical detail to debates about inclusive policy, cultural pluralism in sport, and athlete wellbeing. An illustrative table summarizing participant demographics and a figure depicting the thematic network are used to clarify the study sample and analytic structure.
Methods
This study used a qualitative design to explore in depth the experiences of Iranian female athletes and their coaches regarding the interaction between international norms and local cultural-religious requirements. Purposive and criterion sampling identified twenty participants (twelve female athletes and eight coaches) who had direct experience in international competitions and had encountered dress- or identity-related challenges. Participants represented a range of sports in which appearance and attire regulations have been salient, including futsal, athletics, tennis and combat sports. Semi-structured interviews were conducted in a private setting, lasting an average of 45 minutes, guided by an interview schedule covering background, international competition experience, dress and equipment constraints, encounters with officials, psychological effects, and views on regulatory reform. All interviews were audio recorded with participants’ consent and transcribed verbatim. Transcripts were anonymized and checked for accuracy against recordings. Thematic network analysis was applied in three iterative phases: (1) open coding to extract basic themes, (2) clustering basic themes into organizing themes, and (3) synthesizing organizing themes into global themes. Coding was performed independently by two researchers to enhance credibility; discrepancies were resolved through discussion and consensus. Member checking was used by returning summaries to a subset of participants to confirm interpretation, and an audit trail documented analytic decisions. Ethical approval was obtained from an institutional review board; participants provided informed consent and were assured of confidentiality. Reflexive notes were kept throughout data collection to account for researcher positionality and to increase transparency. Recruitment used professional networks and federation contacts; inclusion required national team membership and participation in at least one international event. Data collection continued until thematic saturation. Coding was organized in NVivo and translations employed forward/back procedures to preserve nuance. Triangulation across athlete and coach narratives increased trustworthiness and rich contextual detail was provided in the participant table and field notes.
Results
Thematic analysis produced three global themes that together describe the gap between global standards and the realities of Iranian female athletes: (1) cultural-sports challenges and conflicts, (2) international legal frameworks and regulatory friction, and (3) role-modeling and adaptive strategies. Across the sample of twenty participants, all described one or more manifestations of cultural-regulatory tension; seventeen participants specifically cited attire and hijab-related constraints as primary impediments. Cultural-sports challenges and conflicts: Participants reported multiple practical problems caused by mandated dress. Common basic themes included thermal discomfort during high-intensity exercise, restricted range of motion that affected technique (noted by athletes in wrestling and athletics), equipment incompatibility (e.g., head coverings interfering with helmets or ear protection), and persistent concerns about public modesty and family expectations. Several athletes emphasized that beyond physical constraints, symbolic concerns fear of negative attention or misinterpretation shaped their decisions to withdraw from certain events or to alter competitive strategies. Coaches recounted instances where training loads were modified to reduce overheating risk, and where selection decisions considered athletes’ comfort with international dress requirements. International legal frameworks and regulatory friction: Participants pointed to specific rules and enforcement practices that created barriers. Ten interviewees referenced federation-level prohibitions or ambiguous clauses (for example, cited instances related to FIFA’s historical treatment of head coverings) and inconsistent enforcement across host venues. Consequences included last-minute disqualifications, administrative delays, and reputational costs when athletes were forced to negotiate exceptions. Coaches described the administrative burden of securing waivers and the demoralizing effect of uncertain rulings on team dynamics. Role-modeling and adaptive strategies: Despite obstacles, seven athletes recounted successful international performances while wearing Islamic dress. These cases illustrated practical adaptations: sport-specific hijab designs that minimized bulk, equipment modifications, tailored warm-up regimes, psychological reframing to integrate religious and athletic identities, and leveraging national or international advocates to negotiate accommodations. Successful athletes reported higher self-efficacy, visibility effects that improved public perceptions, and incremental shifts in organizers’ attitudes when demonstrable safety and performance standards were met. Psychological outcomes: Identity conflict, anticipatory anxiety, and performance pressure emerged across themes. Fourteen participants described anxiety linked to identity management, which they correlated with concentration lapses and variable competition outcomes. Overall, findings portray a multi-layered gap that is both procedural and embodied, requiring coordinated policy, technical, and psychosocial responses. An illustrative table details participant demographics and sport distribution, while a thematic network figure maps theme relation. Findings show practical adjustments require parallel policy flexibility and psychosocial support. Urgently.
Conclusion
The findings show the gap between global sports standards and Iranian female athletes’ realities results from interlocking cultural, legal, and psychological factors. Rigidity in attire regulations, uneven enforcement, and equipment incompatibilities produce practical barriers to participation; identity conflict and anticipatory anxiety further degrade performance and wellbeing. Importantly, documented cases of successful international participation while maintaining Islamic dress demonstrate that inclusive solutions are feasible when technical safety, design adjustments, and institutional support align. Recommended actions include developing flexible, safety-based attire guidelines; ensuring consistent and transparent enforcement across events; investing in psychological support services for athletes; and establishing formal channels for dialogue between international federations and culturally diverse stakeholders. National sport bodies should compile and disseminate best-practice adaptation models to inform rulemaking. Combined, these measures can reduce barriers, promote equitable access, and build a global sporting environment that respects cultural diversity while safeguarding athlete performance and dignity and encourage long-term cultural change.
KeyWords: Iranian women athletes, Fourth Football Law, global standards, Olympics.
Article Message
The practical contribution of this study is an evidence-based interdisciplinary framework that proposes actionable strategies to bridge the gap between international sporting standards and the cultural–religious realities faced by Iranian female athletes. These strategies including the standardization of sport-specific, culturally compliant apparel, the revision of federation policies through specialized committees, and the development of psychological support programmes and international networking offer concrete guidance for national and international policymakers aiming to harmonize global norms with cultural diversity.
Ethical Considerations
This study, all ethical principles have been observed. Participants took part in the interviews after giving informed consent, having been made aware of the objectives and procedures of the research. Maintaining the confidentiality of their information and their privacy was one of the main requirements of the study, and all stages of data collection were conducted in a secure and trusted environment
Authors’ Contributions
The authors of this Research had equal participation in all the states of project implementation including design implementation and writing.
Conflict of Interest
The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest in conducting this research or preparing this article. All research activities were carried out independently, impartially, and without any affiliation to political, commercial, or organizational factors.
Acknowledgments
Sincere thanks and appreciation are extended to all those who, with their constructive comments and feedback, assisted at every stage of the research.
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