The Hijab: The greatest threat to western civilization… and kids’ soccer.
July 10, 2012 | 8 Comments
I know that I have ragged on Quebec society more than once about the apparent intolerance towards freedom of religion. Governments have banned religious dress and some city councils have made it clear that they don’t really like others. We might hope that with a progressive orange wave enveloping the province a year ago, such oppressive impulses are just the misguided actions of governments, and not reflective of the broader public.
I really hope that’s the case; however, if Gatineau’s soccer association is at all representative, my hope may be misguded:
Just days after soccer’s international governing body FIFA allowed Muslim female players to wear headscarves during matches, a nine-year-old Quebec girl was sent off the pitch in Gatineau for wearing a hijab.
Rayane Benatti was told she could not play in this weekend’s tournament at a local park because her headscarf was a safety hazard.
“I’m sad,” Rayane told CTV Ottawa.
The association, ironically, is placing the blame directly on FIFA, claiming that they can’t allow any headware until FIFA approves a design, materials and colour (yes, colour).
This issue has been in the news before (and in the past, local officials threw up their hands and pointed to FIFA), so it’s not like the association has been caught off guard. Their continued intolerance is a clear sign that they just don’t want Rayane or people dressed like her playing soccer with the rest of the kids. It’s bigotry, pure and simple.
(And, by the way, why on earth would a kids soccer league have to conform to every one of FIFA’s rules?)
Comments
8 Responses to “The Hijab: The greatest threat to western civilization… and kids’ soccer.”
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July 12th, 2012 @ 9:43 am
Anyone who suggests a ban on hijabs has to do with unclear directives from FIFA is flat out wrong. I am a licenced soccer referee and I clearly remember the directive that came down regarding hijabs and other cultural head coverings. FIFA allows all of them, provided they are safe for sports. The same provisions apply to players who observer Sikh or Jewish cultural traditions and choose to wear cultural head coverings. They are all allowed. End of story. The officials behind this move in Gatineau are either ignorant of their own sporting body’s rules or they are wilfully ignoring those rules.
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Jonathan McLeod Reply:
July 12th, 2012 at 1:45 pm
Thanks for the insight, Michael. It always seemed like the officials were just using FIFA as a cover (no pun intended) to do what they wanted to do.
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July 12th, 2012 @ 12:24 pm
Desperation. I have been trying to comment on “Let workers decide..” without luck anywhere, starting with the Citizen. I assume you will be able to get this to Jonathan.
Good morning
I normally respond to article like your but unfortunately yours is not open for Comment. Here is what I wanted to say. I hope that it is useful to you
The theme of this article is right on. Workers should not have to join or finance a union. There are some other items
“The Charter of Rights and Freedoms defends a person’s right to work” However the Charter is flawed, namely there is no penalty for violating the Charter. Thus unions can behave as they wish and lose if someone takes then to court. No penalty. Of course this flaw is a much greater threat to Democracy, presumably a major concern for your organization since the police can violate the Charter with impunity. Has your organization considered this?
“Certainly, we are never compelled to fund an organization that we do not believe furthers our self-interest”. Actually due to tax treatment for political parties and “charities” we are compelled to pay more taxes every time someone makes a donation.
“Right-to-work policies not only provide workers with elemental freedoms, they foster economic growth and the expansion of wealth.” Is expansion of wealth desirable? For what purpose? We have lots of wealth, distribution seems to be the problem. This is especially true in the US. More jobs? We already have 4.7 million two income families and 1.4 million unemployed. I would argue that there are too many people in the work force thus driving down wages and increasing the number of unemployed.
Going back – the closed shop has to go.
Art Campbell
Ottawa
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Jonathan McLeod Reply:
July 12th, 2012 at 1:02 pm
Hi Art, and thanks for the comment. I don’t know why some things at the Citizen allow comments and some don’t, but I appreciate you finding us here.
I am planning to put up a link and excerpt to that Op Ed here at the Commons,and when I do, I’ll include your comment so that everything is in the right place.
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July 13th, 2012 @ 7:03 pm
People seem to be missing an important question, which is why the hell would we care about what FIFA says about how we run our ten year old girls’ soccer leagues?
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Jonathan McLeod Reply:
July 14th, 2012 at 12:04 pm
Yeah, that seems ridiculous.
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July 16th, 2012 @ 5:19 pm
Why does it matter what FIFA says about hijabs? Well, it matters because FIFA is the world body that governs the rules of the game, the duties of the referees and the acceptable conduct and dress code. FIFA sets the policy and (in theory) provides the leadership. These guidelines are then interpreted and administered by the Canadian Soccer Association and the provincial body in Quebec. It matters in this instance because FIFA (correctly) pointed out that religious head coverings that are designed for use in sports, are allowed on a soccer field. These officials in Gatineau are ignoring FIFA, the CSA and their own provincial body presumably.
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Jonathan McLeod Reply:
July 16th, 2012 at 6:52 pm
Yes, you’re right, Michael. However, what I take to be Peter’s point is that if “we” think that a FIFA ruling (or none ruling) is ridiculous, why do we feel obligated to follow it for a local kids league? FIFA plans to decide what colour hijabs will be acceptable. Is that really something that need be done for 10-year-olds?
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