Former Sunderland striker Asamoah Gyan is among more than 40 players to have been found guilty of having “unethical hair” under United Arab Emirates Football Association guidelines.
The 31-year-old Ghanaian is on loan at Dubai-based Arabian Gulf League side Al Ahli from Shanghai SIPG.
In 2012, Saudi Arabia goalkeeper Waleed Abdullah was told to cut his “un-Islamic” hair by the referee before playing for his club side Al Shabab.
The Saudi rule bans mohawk-style cuts.
The BBC has asked the UAEFA for clarification on its guidelines and is awaiting a response.
According to Middle Eastern football website Ahdaaf, Al Wahda’s Suhail Al-Mansoori (pictured below) was told to cut his hair while UAE international and 2016 Asian footballer of the year Omar Abdulrahman, who sports a similar style, was let off.
BBC