Al Shabab striker Nana Poku has admitted he was told to shear his mohawk upon arrival this winter, in a bid to avoid falling foul of the UAE Football Association’s ruling over “unethical hair”.
A revelation that 46 players from the Arabian Gulf League – headlined by Al Ahli and Ghana superstar Asamoah Gyan – had been written to about their locks gained global attention on Wednesday.
They face fines or even a suspension if they do not heed the notice, based on the Islamic teachings of ‘Qaza’ in which styles are banned where only part of the head is shaved.
“When I came here, my hair was not like this – it was very tall,” said Poku, who is yet to score in seven games since he joined on loan from Egypt’s Misr Lel-Makkasa. “They told me that in the UAE, it is not done like this.
“You see that I have now cut it. I did not feel happy, but it is okay.
“I have never been fined before. I do not know if they will make this.
“I heard that everybody could make like this. I will leave my hair like this.”
The UAE law – put into statute during October – states that those warned have one game to make a change. If they do not, a fine will follow in the first instance before suspensions are then issued.
A total of 79 footballers have been contacted from the AGL, First Division League and all the way down to the Under-21 competition.
Similar guidelines have been enacted in fellow Middle Eastern countries. In 2012, Saudi Arabia goalkeeper Waleed Abdullah was ordered to cut his “un-Islamic” hair on the sidelines by a referee in the Saudi Professional League.
Players in Qatar have also been highlighted by authorities as transgressors in recent seasons.
Can report @3moory10's barnet is still curly & resplendent despite the "unethical hair" clampdown by the @uaefa_ae @Sport360 #hairgate #AGL pic.twitter.com/1yhStG23Mk
— Matt Monaghan (@mattmonaghan360) February 15, 2017
