Quebec Soccer Association Upholds Turban Ban On Playing Field

[McMillan]

I really don't see why they can't play with a turban but I understand why they shouldn't. maybe add extra stoppage time for turbans falling off during play.

[Jägermeister]

Just another example of Quebecers trying to flaunt it's "superiority" over other groups.

Nothing really new here.

[TLindenIsGod]

It's football, you shouldn't have anything on your head unless your name is Petr Čech. I would normally never agree with Quebec but this is in the Fifa rule book and should be applied accordingly.

[JoeyJoeJoeJr. Shabadoo]

It's football, you shouldn't have anything on your head unless your name is Petr Čech. I would normally never agree with Quebec but this is in the Fifa rule book and should be applied accordingly.

[-Vintage Canuck-]

FIFA reinforces to Canadian officials soccer players can wear turbans.

http://bit.ly/18GuFt2

[Dogbyte]

What is with all of you and your concerns for a turban falling off?Firstly, if they want to play with it on well if it falls off its their own concern, play on.Secondly, I've played rugby against guys with turbans on. Its a bit more lightly to come off in a scrum than heading a ball. They were quite fine and the only times I can occur they came off was when someone purposely went after it to which the individual was taken care of.There's no logical reason why they can't play with a turban on and any potential disadvantages to the team will just have to be a risk they will be willing to take as the game shouldn't be stopped.

[mbal23]

I find it ridiculous that they they think its a injury danger... It's braided and tied up hair covered by a cloth. And the ban is for kids leagues which is stupid because the kids aren't playing because they want to go pro but because its good exercise. It also does nothing to help or hurt your ability to head the ball. I've had one since I was in the second grade and if you tie it well there is no chance it comes off unless someone grabs it and pulls with all their power. And everyone saying they should talk with FIFA, they send them a letter to get together and resolve the issue the news people are just stirring things up for views and readership. It's an easily solvable problem.

[mbal23]

That's a problem between them and the British.

[DonLever]

OTTAWA — Quebec residents are at odds with the rest of Canada over whether it’s safe for soccer players to wear turbans on the field, says a new poll released Friday.

The emerging survey numbers coincided with a statement from FIFA, the international governing body of the sport, authorizing the use of male head covers in Canada, despite a ban imposed by a Quebec’s soccer federation.

Meantime, the poll found that 47 per cent of respondents in Quebec said they agreed with the statement that “wearing a turban is a safety risk when playing soccer” while 36 per cent said they disagreed with that statement.

In the rest of Canada, 30 per cent agreed while 46 per cent disagreed with the statement, said the poll, sponsored by the Montreal-based Association for Canadian Studies.

“The voices we hear outside of Quebec seem to be categoric: This is not a safety risk,” said Jack Jedwab, executive director of the association.

“Although a lot of the rhetoric we hear within Quebec as well suggests that it’s not strictly about safety, that it’s about integration.”

Field work for the online poll of 1,503 Canadians was conducted by Leger Marketing between June 10 and June 12. A sample of this size would normally have a 2.5 per cent margin of error, 19 times out of 20, for the national results, Jedwab said.

The turban ban has erupted into a political battle with Quebec Premier Pauline Marois defending the provincial federation’s decision earlier in the week, and most federal politicians denouncing the ban.

Federal Liberal leader Justin Trudeau called to offer support to a Montreal teenager, Aneel Samra, 18, who was opposing the provincial decision.

Citizenship, Multiculturalism and Immigration Minister Jason Kenney also said Friday that the Quebec federation “should absolutely follow the rules.”

“This has never been an issue elsewhere in Canada or, I believe, elsewhere in the world,” Kenney told reporters outside the House of Commons. “The FIFA rules never barred turbans from being worn on the soccer field. I don’t know how that misunderstanding was created. We’re glad that FIFA has clarified this.”

The Quebec federation said it was welcoming the FIFA statement and would comment further on Saturday

In the poll, the statement, “I feel my identity is threatened when I see people wearing a turban, hijab or kippa” also received a different reaction in Quebec versus the rest of the country.

In Quebec, 46 per cent agreed with this statement and 48 per cent disagreed. In the rest of the country, 27 per cent agreed versus 64 per cent who disagreed.

Outside of Quebec, the highest percentage of those who agreed with that statement was in Alberta at 32 per cent, while the lowest percentage of those who agreed with the statement was in British Columbia at 24 per cent.

The results also suggested that older Canadians were more likely to feel uncomfortable than younger ones after seeing turbans, hijabs or kippas.

For example, while 21 per cent of Canadians between the ages of 18 and 24 said they felt “threatened” by seeing those head coverings, that percentage rose steadily, up to 40 per cent, among age groups over 65.

“It’s really the baby boomers who seem to feel more threatened by this,” Jedwab said. “That’s a good sign because younger people are more exposed to diversity. And I think exposure to diversity a salient effect on this issue.”

Jedwab added that the current debate reminds him of discussions that led to public hearings on reasonable accommodations of different cultures in Quebec a few years earlier. He said a lot of the Quebec media coverage was fair, but some reactions in letters to newspapers, radio hotline callers and social media commentary was more aggressive against religious symbols.

“Ideally, the Quebec Soccer Federation, to the extent that it wants to look at these polling numbers, might want to look at the what the younger cohorts say, because they are the ones who are on the field, if you allow me that pun.”

© Copyright © Postmedia News

[DonLever]

MONTREAL - Soccer's world body has struck a blow against Quebec's turban ban, saying such headwear is perfectly acceptable on the pitch for now.

The Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) said in a statement Friday that it is temporarily authorizing the wearing of male head covers at all levels of Canadian soccer, applying a 2012 ruling that allowed specially designed hijabs for women.

The statement outlines certain rules for allowing the male headwear on the pitch.

"(FIFA) authorises the CSA to permit all players to wear head covers ... in all areas and on all levels of the Canadian football community," the statement from the world body reads.

FIFA's position comes four days after the Canadian Soccer Association suspended Quebec's soccer federation because the provincial body banned Sikh headwear.

The move risked turning Quebec into a soccer pariah, with players in that province isolated from national and interprovincial competition.

The Quebec organization had cited safety issues for its decision and the fact that the garments were not endorsed by FIFA.

FIFA has now responded that the head coverings are allowed — on a trial basis only, for the time being. The issue will be discussed in October by the International Football Association Board (IFAB), which determines the rules of the game, and a final decision is expected in March 2014.

The Quebec Soccer Federation said Friday that it welcomed the news "with enthusiasm and relief." It said it had been waiting for clear instructions from FIFA, which had not been issued before Friday.

However, the Quebec body has not said exactly what it will do next.

It will hold a news conference Saturday morning near Montreal. At that news conference, it said, it will reveal its board of directors' decision with respect to the "lifting of the ban."

The impact of the spat has already been felt.

This weekend, at least 20 out-of-province teams are skipping a tournament in Montreal. Some players in Quebec leagues have also decided to wear turbans in protest of the ban.

That ban had the support of Quebec’s Parti Quebecois government and some sovereigntists have even used the case as an argument for Quebec independence.

However, many federal politicians opposed the ban and applauded the CSA suspension — with the Conservatives and Liberals being the most forceful.

NDP Leader Tom Mulcair had also written to FIFA, seeking clarification and expressing his hope children would be allowed to play.

There are certain guidelines regarding the headgear. FIFA outlined the details in a letter to the Canadian Soccer Association, dated Thursday.

According to FIFA, the headcover must be the same colour as the jersey; must keep with the professional appearance of the player's equipment; and must not be attached to a jersey or pose any danger to the player wearing it.

The World Sikh Organization welcomed FIFA's declaration.

"It's been our position from the outset that the accommodation of the turban shouldn't hinge on FIFA rules but instead on the Canadian tradition of diversity and acceptance and also on Canadian rules and law," said spokesman Balpreet Singh.

"This announcement is certainly good news. It's absolutely clear now that any restriction on the wearing of the turban is illegitimate and we're hopeful the Quebec Soccer Federation will now immediately lift its ban.

"The children should really be allowed to play as soon as possible."

A community event planned for Montreal on Saturday will go ahead as scheduled, albeit under a different tone given Friday's announcement.

Mukhbir Singh, vice-president for Quebec and the Atlantic region for the World Sikh Organization, says he's thankful for FIFA's stance.

He said the public support has been uplifting and refreshing.

Singh, 25, a Montreal soccer player who has also been forced off the pitch, said it's satisfying to have worked to overturn the ban. He hopes the Quebec federation moves quickly to change its position.

"Whoever is affected by these recent developments, I hope they are all back on the field and no one misses another soccer game," Singh said.

The community event in the city's west end will go on as scheduled.

"Our goal was to rally together in a positive manner, to open a dialogue with the community," Singh said.

"We didn't want it to be a protest or a statement, we want it to be a positive event where we could explain that Sikhs are part of Quebec, we speak French and English and we've been here for a very long time."

"The fact is we're just like everyone else."

[nuckin_futz]

In the poll, the statement, “I feel my identity is threatened when I see people wearing a turban, hijab or kippa” also received a different reaction in Quebec versus the rest of the country.

In Quebec, 46 per cent agreed with this statement and 48 per cent disagreed. In the rest of the country, 27 per cent agreed versus 64 per cent who disagreed.

Outside of Quebec, the highest percentage of those who agreed with that statement was in Alberta at 32 per cent, while the lowest percentage of those who agreed with the statement was in British Columbia at 24 per cent.

The results also suggested that older Canadians were more likely to feel uncomfortable than younger ones after seeing turbans, hijabs or kippas.

For example, while 21 per cent of Canadians between the ages of 18 and 24 said they felt “threatened” by seeing those head coverings, that percentage rose steadily, up to 40 per cent, among age groups over 65.

[CanuckofSteel]

What if another player trips on one after it has fallen off, or takes a ball right in the face because the turban is blocking their view?

[AllEyezOnMe]

Are you being serious right now?

That was worst argument I have heard to ban Turbans in soccer. Are you from Quebec or something?

[Violator]

Just another example of Quebecers trying to flaunt it's "superiority" over other groups.

Nothing really new here.

[-Vintage Canuck-]

@SportsCentre: The Canadian Soccer Association announced on Saturday 15 June that it has ended the suspension of the Quebec Soccer Federation. #TSN #CSA