Montreal Gazette: Quebec Soccer Federation cites 'safety' for turban ban

The Sikh community says this has forced a difficult dilemma onto the families of 100 to 200 children: ditch a religious requirement, or quit playing organized soccer. The World Sikh Organization says those children were forced out of soccer a year ago.

http://www.montrealgazette.com/sports/Quebec+Soccer+Federation+cites+safety+turban/8473907/story.html

BY SIDHARTHA BANERJEE, THE CANADIAN PRESS JUNE 4, 2013

The Quebec Soccer Federation says if Sikh kids want to play soccer while wearing a turban there's an easy solution: They can play in their own yard.

The federation held a Monday teleconference to explain its weekend decision to uphold a ban on turbans that is unique in the country.

Brigitte Frot, the director general of the provincial association, was asked what she would tell a 5-year-old boy in a turban who shows up to register to play soccer with his friends.

She replied: "They can play in their backyard. But not with official referees, not in the official rules of soccer. They have no choice."

Someone could be heard openly laughing as she delivered that response during Monday's media telephone conference call.

Canada has an office for religious freedom, but it said Monday that it will not interfere in the issue. The new federal organization, created by the Harper Tories, explained that it operates under the Department of Foreign Affairs and its work is limited to the area outside Canada's borders.

The soccer federation explains the ban as an issue of player safety.

When asked, however, how many injuries have actually been linked to turbans, Frot replied that the association doesn't have money to commission studies. There have been no injuries, as far as she's aware, she said.

"The point is we don't know and because we don't know we don't want to take any chances," Frot said.

"That's the main concern our board has."

Frot was asked whether the move was racist and she said she disagreed with the question. When asked whether it might at least be construed as intolerant, she offered a "no comment."

She said her group was simply taking its cues from FIFA, soccer's international governing body. FIFA rules do not explicitly state a position on such headwear - which is neither banned, nor allowed.

Frot said that if people want to change the policy they should take it up with FIFA.

"They have to knock at FIFA's door," she said.

She said the federation would lift its ban immediately if FIFA did. But, for now, Quebec referees who don't apply the rule could face penalties.

Quebec referees began cracking down in the last year on turbans, patkas and keskis, the religious headgear worn by Sikh men and boys.

The weekend decision to uphold the ban occurred despite a directive from the Canadian Soccer Association in April, calling for provincial associations to allow them by extending an existing rule that allows Islamic hijabs for girls.

Quebec is the only province that has balked at the directive.

The Sikh community says this has forced a difficult dilemma onto the families of 100 to 200 children: ditch a religious requirement, or quit playing organized soccer. The World Sikh Organization says those children were forced out of soccer a year ago.

Now this season may already be lost for them because the registration period has ended.

The Sikh organization says it hasn't ruled out a legal challenge.

The group held a meeting in Ottawa that was already scheduled Monday and the issue was at the top of the agenda.