Members of a female soccer team showed the ultimate gesture of sportsmanship by stopping a match to help out a player from the opposite team. 

A group of athletes from Jordan’s Shabab al-Ordon Club were fiercely competing when suddenly a player from the rival Arab Orthodox Club halted from the game as her hijab gradually unraveled.  

Without a second thought, the women of the Shabab al-Ordon team huddled around the player as she readjusted her hijab, kneeling on the ground. The crowd began to applaud the generous act, and after a few moments, the teams continued competing. 

Although this feel-good moment happened during last year’s Final Women’s League match, the video has picked up steam across social media with many hailing the spirit of generosity across sports and religion, Good Morning America reports.   

Unfortunately, not everyone holds the same respect for the hijab and what it means for those who wear it. In Ohio, a high school athlete was disqualified from a race for wearing a hijab as Blavity previously reported. Noor Abukaram, who has participated in various sports throughout the season and over the course of her high school career, said she “always feared” that being disqualified because of her religious headwear would happen. 

“I feel like my rights as an athlete were violated this weekend because this rule does NOT exist in writing,” she wrote in a post on Facebook. “I should not have to get a waiver signed and approved by OHSAA to allow me to race due to my religious head covering. Hijabs are not specifically prohibited by OHSAA rulings.”

According to Amy Addington, communications coordinator for Sylvania School District, the high school coaching staff has been in contact with OHSAA to make sure the 16-year-old student-athlete will be able to run in future races. 

HijabsisterhoodSportsmanshipWomen's-Soccer