Former Sunderland striker Asamoah Gyan is among a group of more than 40 players deemed to have “unethical hair” under United Arab Emirates Football Association (UAEFA) guidelines.<\/p>\n
The 31-year-old Ghanaian is on loan at Dubai-based Arabian Gulf League side Al Ahli from Shanghai SIPG.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
The Saudi rule bans mohawk-style cuts.<\/p>\n
Some Islamic teachings ban ‘Qaza’ hairstyles, which include mohawks, because only part of the head is shaved, leaving other parts unshaven.<\/p>\n
Individual match referees judge whether players’ haircuts are appropriate, with some in United Arab Emirates concerned about children copying the styles.<\/p>\n
The UAEFA send a player’s club a warning letter in the first instance, with punishments escalating to a fine and then a suspension if he does not comply.<\/p>\n
Gyan is one of 46 players at the warning letter stage.<\/p>\n
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 and also plays in the Arabian Gulf League, was let off.<\/p>\n