News & Politics - Soccer referee orders Muslim girl to remove hijab if she wants to play

elisheva · 02-28-2007, 07:36 PM

Quote:

Ontario soccer sides quit tourney after hijab ban
Laval referee orders head scarf off. 'Telling the world that no Muslim girl is allowed to play the sport,' coach protests

KATIE LEWIS, MAX HARROLD of The Gazette contributed to this report
CanWest News Service; The Gazette contributed to this report

Monday, February 26, 2007

A female soccer team from Nepean, Ont., forfeited a tournament in Laval yesterday after the referee ordered a player to remove her hijab.

Four other youth soccer teams from Ottawa also forfeited their games and left the field in protest.

The Nepean Hotspurs Selects, a girl's soccer team made up of 18 sixth-graders, walked off the indoor playing surface after a referee ordered Asmahan (Azzy) Mansour to take off her red hijab because he felt it was a physical threat to the other players.

It was the first time she had been asked to take off her hijab.

"I don't understand why I can't play," she said by telephone from the sidelines after her team withdrew from the tournament. "This is so sad. It's my religion."

According to guidelines by FIFA, the international governing body of soccer, "a player shall not use equipment or wear anything (including any kind of jewellery) that could be dangerous to himself or another player."

Referees from different provinces follow different guidelines. The Ontario Soccer Association allows players to wear religious head gear.

But the Quebec soccer federation does not specify whether players are allowed to wear religious headgear.

The international FIFA rules do not specify anything about wearing hijabs, or any religious headgear.

According to Azzy's coach, Louis Maneiro, just the day before, in the same tournament, Azzy had played two games and the referee had not said anything.

"This is ridiculous," Maneiro said, adding that many of the girls on the team were in tears. "They regard it as being a physical threat to other players. This is basically telling the world that no Muslim girl is allowed to play the sport."

Mohamed Elmasry, president of the Canadian Islamic Congress, said he had never heard of an incident like this happening in Canada.

"Many Muslim countries have all-girl soccer teams and some of the players wear a hijab," he said. "This is an unacceptable behaviour. It shows ignorance vis-a-vis international rules because the hijab does not endanger other players physically."

According to Richard Scott, a spokesperson for the Canadian Soccer Association, it is up to provincial bodies to decide how to interpret FIFA's rules in terms of religious headgear.

Scott would not comment on the specifics of the case, adding that the association was still looking into the matter.

Reached last night, Edward Witkowski, an official with the Quebec Soccer Federation, could not say how referees in this province usually apply rules about uniforms.

Azzy's hijab is a long scarf, made of a light silky material, which covers her head but not her face. Azzy, who plays forward, says it doesn't affect her ability to play soccer.

"I'm sorry my team couldn't play," she said. "It's my fault."

Ottawa Citizen
© The Gazette (Montreal) 2007

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There have been several new developments - if you go to Google News and search soccer hijab, you'll get tons of stories and editorials. Anyway, so my understanding of the issue is that this girl has always played with her hijab, and now a Quebec referee told her it wasn't allowed, citing safety concerns. (I imagine that perhaps another player could pull the scarf and hurt the girl, maybe worry of choking.) The team then forfeited in protest.

My take: If it's a legitimate safety issue, then it's understandable, but they need to come up with some compromise. I read that her hijab even has velcro fasteners so it can't get stuck, which, IMO, seems to solve any potential problem. I think that banning hijabs just like that is a terrible idea, because it alienates young girls who potentially would want to play (and therefore closes off an amazing potential source of integration).

Thoughts? Stuff like this has really mushroomed in Quebec in the past months - headlines about "reasonable accomodation" are everywhere.

Lain · 02-28-2007, 11:01 PM

Okay, this doesn't make sense unless the girl's hijab is some sort of secret device that would control the soccer ball. Other than that, I don't see anything wrong with it.

Papri · 03-01-2007, 07:15 AM

The only reason which could possibly warrant the request to remove the hijab is evidently a matter of safety; as cited before, the hijab was designed so it would not be a threat, so what's the issue? Just seems to me the ref was on a power trip (as most football fans would agree anyway

) and was unneccessarily exercising his power without giving proper consideration to the situation.

Poor girl.

*Ledi* · 03-01-2007, 11:28 AM

The one thing I still don't understand is how a religious person like that can even play soccer in the first place? I mean, you have to wear a uniform that shows your legs and the last time I checked, the girls with hijabs don't wear those.

I have Muslim friends and none of them would wear shorts in the gym; they'd always wear sweat pants.

Am I missing something here?

Indian Summer · 03-01-2007, 01:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by *Ledi* (View Post)

The one thing I still don't understand is how a religious person like that can even play soccer in the first place? I mean, you have to wear a uniform that shows your legs and the last time I checked, the girls with hijabs don't wear those.

I have Muslim friends and none of them would wear shorts in the gym; they'd always wear sweat pants.

Am I missing something here?

You know, that's a really good point. As far as I can tell, you're right, although I have to admit it didn't occur to me.

I'm kind of torn on this issue. On one hand, I'm all for religious tolerence, but on the other, I definitely see where the ref was coming from. When I was in high school, wearing your hair down wasn't allowed for some sports (and I think soccer was among them, actually) since it was something to pull and whatnot. I guess it depends on the school system. This article has a bit of bias, though, as they don't get fully into the rules.

The quote about how it doesn't hinder her ability to play made me laugh, in all honesty. It's so misplaced as the issue isn't about that. It might not hinder her ability to play, but it's something a person on the opposing team could reach out and grab, too. And hell, they'd probably be accused of a hate crime for ripping it off of her.

I don't see this as Muslim intolerance, though. It just sounds like a ref strict about following the rules. It mentions in the article that jewelry isn't allowed either, so I wonder if he's had to remove a few cross necklaces. I think it's a reasonable assumption.

quaist · 03-01-2007, 02:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by *Ledi* (View Post)

The one thing I still don't understand is how a religious person like that can even play soccer in the first place? I mean, you have to wear a uniform that shows your legs and the last time I checked, the girls with hijabs don't wear those.

I have Muslim friends and none of them would wear shorts in the gym; they'd always wear sweat pants.

Am I missing something here?

Well, as far as I know, this is about a female soccer team. And I heard just a week or so ago that the Iran wants to use a whole island as a "swimming pool" for their muslim women, so that they can wear bikinis etc.. So I guess it doesn't matter that much for muslims if you undress when there's no male person around.

Don't know if I'm right, though.

Indian Summer · 03-01-2007, 02:45 PM

From my understanding, though, this isn't a female Muslim soccer team. In order for what you're saying to work, wouldn't that mean that none of the other girls can have fathers, brothers, (boy)friends in attendance at the games? That seems more than a little crazy to me, and really, really hard to enforce, especially given that I can't picture all the games being held in private locations.

*Ledi* · 03-01-2007, 02:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Indian Summer (View Post)

From my understanding, though, this isn't a female Muslim soccer team. In order for what you're saying to work, wouldn't that mean that none of the other girls can have fathers, brothers, (boy)friends in attendance at the games? That seems more than a little crazy to me, and really, really hard to enforce, especially given that I can't picture all the games being held in private locations.

Exactly. Also, the same excuse can be used to take off the hijab: If there's only going to be girls around when these games take place, then it should be OK to take off the hijab too. Anyway, the referee was a male as I'm sure other people involved in these activities are.

I just don't think it makes sense for a girl that's so religious to wear shorts if she won't even take off her hijab.

Indian Summer · 03-01-2007, 02:56 PM

Yeah... I don't know. While there's some cases of really obvious oppression, this doesn't really strike me as one. In all honesty, it seems like people are trying to blow this up into some civil rights violation or something. If the girl's wearing shorts, she can't whine about the hijab. It irritates me when people are totally cool violating one tenant of their "beliefs" but the second someone questions another... ugh. Pick your battles.

*Ledi* · 03-01-2007, 03:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Indian Summer (View Post)

Yeah... I don't know. While there's some cases of really obvious oppression, this doesn't really strike me as one. In all honesty, it seems like people are trying to blow this up into some civil rights violation or something. If the girl's wearing shorts, she can't whine about the hijab. It irritates me when people are totally cool violating one tenant of their "beliefs" but the second someone questions another... ugh. Pick your battles.

Seriously.

I think the media is just trying to make this look worse than it actually is. It's so stupid.

Indian Summer · 03-01-2007, 03:13 PM

This is the part that kills me:

Quote:

Mohamed Elmasry, president of the Canadian Islamic Congress, said he had never heard of an incident like this happening in Canada.

"Many Muslim countries have all-girl soccer teams and some of the players wear a hijab," he said. "This is an unacceptable behaviour. It shows ignorance vis-a-vis international rules because the hijab does not endanger other players physically."

First of all, the president of the Islamic Congress got ahold of the story of an 11 year old Muslim not being held above the rules and is throwing a hissy fit? Second, he's comparing Canada's rules to those of Muslim countries? It's great that in Iran, women can wear their hijabs in day to day life and sport, but... I don't know. I'm not Canadian but I'm pretty sure Canada is not a Muslim country, lol. I don't expect Canada to start acting like Iran or Aghanistan or China or Taiwan or Zaire because... Canada's Canada, not any of those other places. There's a reason it's a country of it's own. So that Canada can have Canadian rules, laws, customs, norms, etc.

**TheAngel** · 03-01-2007, 05:13 PM

I had to remove my St. Joan medal when I played soccer on a team. Does this mean my religion was being opressed? No, it was a danger. If I had gotten grabbed around the neck it could have cut me, or it could have hit someone else. If by accident the Hijab is grabbed and the girls are hurt, parents would probably sue the school or something. We had a jewish boy at our school that had to take off his yarmulke when he played.

Maggie aka Sarah · 03-01-2007, 06:44 PM

I also think that the media and some Muslim groups are trying to make the situation worse then it actually is.

Hey... as been widely reported in Quebec... the ref that ordered the girl to remove her hijab is also a Muslim.

I also have the feeling the upcoming provincial election also factors into to how the situation was reported. As Elisheva mentioned, "reasonable accommodation" issues in relation to special treatment given to minority groups on a number of different issues have been making headlines here a lot lately.

"Reasonable accommodation" stuff has become an election issue... with the three main political parties in Quebec voicing different opinions.

I also have a feeling that maybe perhaps at least part of the reason that the 4 teams from Ontario quit the tournament was possibly based on a let's show those intolerant Quebec people that we are more tolerant, etc., etc.

And the feeling that I have picked up by the various comments from those involved in soccer in Quebec is that the Quebec refs interpret the international soccer regulations better those "lax" Ontario refs.

Ontario and Quebec have a long tradition of ummmmm.... rivalry.

Maggie

elisheva · 03-01-2007, 06:49 PM

I don't think it was a case of anti-Muslim prejudice, no. I think the way the story has blown up is part and parcel of a huge debate here in Quebec over "reasonable accomodation" of minorities, and I think some of that debate does betray an anti-minority sentiment (largely against Muslims, but other minorities as well). In his response to the situation, the leader of a major provincial party (André Boisclair, leader of the Parti Québecois) actually stated that female Muslim teachers should not wear hijabs in the classroom. I think that kind of thing is ridiculous.

Summer: Elmasry and the CIC are actually Montreal-based, as far as I'm aware, and he issues comments on almost every local issue that is relevant to the Muslim community. Given that this occurred in Laval (the smaller island right next to Montreal), it's not unusual that he would release a statement. And I think the point of mentioning female soccer teams in Muslim countries was not to say that Canada should follow the practices of those countries, but more to point out that other women have played soccer while wearing the hijab without any safety concerns. I do agree that he's muddling the issue when he argues it doesn't endanger other players' safety - the concern, as I understand it, is far more for the girl herself.

I think that if it's a serious concern, then no, she shouldn't be wearing the hijab while playing and they'll have to figure something out. But if it isn't, then I don't see any reason for banning it, and in fact I think it could be a very destructive move. Everyone who's ever watched Bend It Like Beckham knows what a great tool for integration soccer can be

Papri, maybe you can answer a question for me - I had always thought that Muslim girls only wear the hijab or other head coverings after puberty, so I was confused to read that this girl is 11. Am I mistaken about that?

Maggie aka Sarah · 03-01-2007, 07:03 PM

Elisheva: The thing is... as several Muslim women have pointed on various message boards and letters to the editor... that sports hijabs are available. Here's a link:

The Hijab Shop - Sporting Hijabs

I was talking to a guy who I work with who is a soccer ref and the worry apparently is that if the velco tabs had come open that the material of her hijab could possibly wrapped around her neck. Apparently soccer referees in Quebec are often quite strick about any form of head gear... even head bands.

Any ways... the matter is going to be discussed by FIFA at the international level. Will be good to get firm guidelines that will be implemented in an even manner.

So even though the young girl missed out in participating in this tournament... hopefully the rules will be clarified so that this problem doesn't come up again.

Maggie


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