For Christ Sakes...It Is Only A Game

Amd the players are children. It is supposed to be a non-contact sport so what are the safety concerns? Are there no jewish soccer players? Do they have to remove their yamukes? I am about as opposed to political correctness as the next person but this is being blown way out of proportion. The headgear issue came up with the RCMP and Legion Halls and a lot of time and money was spent on legal fees. The Courts made their ruling and as far as I know headgear is not at the root of the problems with the RCMP or Legion Halls. Even OSHA allows some exemptions to the rules.

Soccer's ruling body bans head scarves from game
Updated Sat. Mar. 3 2007 4:21 PM ET
CTV.ca News Staff

Soccer's ruling body has backed Quebec officials who banned a Muslim girl from playing in a tournament near Montreal because she wore a head scarf.

The International Football Association Board -- FIFA -- held its annual meeting Saturday in Manchester, England.

The board was asked to make a ruling on the plight of Asmahan Mansour, the 11-year-old who was told last weekend that she couldn't play in the under-12 tournament in Laval unless she removed her religious head-covering known as a hijab.

Brian Barwick, who spoke on behalf of the board, said it is important to be respectful to "people's thoughts and philosophies,'' but added that the rules of the game must be followed.

"We believe our football to be inclusive. It's part of what we believe our football to be," Barwick said during a news conference.

"But of course if you play football there are basic laws. And law four outlines what the basic laws are concerning gear. I think it's absolutely right to be sensitive to people's thoughts and philosophies but equally football has a set of rules it has to adhere to."

Law four lists the items a player is entitled to wear and head scarves are not mentioned.

Goalkeepers are allowed to wear caps and protective headgear.

The Quebec Soccer Association said the headscarf violated a no-headgear rule set down by FIFA for safety reasons.

The soccer referee who ordered Mansour to remove her headscarf was also a Muslim.

When she was ejected from the game for refusing to remove the covering, Mansour's coach withdrew the team from the tournament in protest.