Your View

Many new Canadians may want to wear a turban or a Hijab. However the girl is 11 years old and there is nothing in the Koran that requires little girls to wear anything on there head. The mother that puts this on must be confused. Until she is a mature woman and has gone through more ceremonies this is premature.

I wear hijab however if involved in a sport I would choose one of several head coverings available that do not include material around the neck.

Again in closing at 11 yrs old there is no religous requirement for such a thing. But I don't appreciate that all Canadians kids do stand up for one another. Again the mother should educate herself on Islam and not unnecessarily burden her before her time.

I agree with the coach.

Some people have asked: Why can Ronaldhino wear a head band? Why are players with long hair able to wear their hair in a pony tail or wear a bandana? Why can Sikh boys wear their respective headgear?

The Answer: headbands, ponytails, headgear, etc. do NOT wrap around the neck. While getting my ponytail yanked on during a basketball/soccer game hurt like hell - I was never at the risk of being strangled with something afixed around my neck.

Necklaces, rings, earrings, facial/body piercings, etc. were stricly prohibited - a girl with a tiny stud in her nose was kicked out of a soccer game b/c the game sponsers didn't wish to be liable for a torn nostril. Sure it made out team mad - she was a strong player - but rules are rules. Not to mention, as a girl who played minor sports for my entire childhood (14+ years), girls are notorious for roughing up/grabbing onto their opponents!

If the girl wasn't wearing a "sports" hijab I suppose that's just too bad. I strongly doubt a priest would be allowed to wear his collar (not sure of the technical name) during a soccer game either.

Referees should err on the side of safety rather than political correctness.

The decision taken by the referee only further reinforces the prejudice that exists in the province of Quebec. How come the Ontario ministry supports the young Muslim girl? Becasue Ontario has welcomed and learned to deal with issue relating to multiculturalism. I am outraged that Quebec is voting on special considerations for minorites? Quebec is a minority in Canada! Don't throw stones if you live in a glass house. I can see that the province of Quebec is simply following what has been outlined by France with regards to religious headgear.

I would like to point out 3 points that seem to be missed here or made and ignored by most.

1) The ref who made the call is Muslim.... so therefore he would be hostile to his own faith?

2) The head scarf is a CHOICE. They choose to wear it. You can choose to not wear it as well. Simply choose not to wear it for fairness and safety on the field. The fact that a sport version is available (something that I was not aware of but applaud) is the other alternative so long as the governing body of the sport allows it.

3) As one of the posters noted... Muslim is not a RACE. It is a religion. So claiming it is racist is really, well, dumb. It is a sign that it seems to be either a knee jerk reaction or the posturing for a law suit.

For most of my life I was a supporter of multiculturalism. As a German Canadian, I enjoyed the fact that we did this. Now, I am really thinking that multiculturalism is the problem. We bend over backwards to everyone else in this country and all these smaller groups now seem to be in the drivers seat.

If the child wants to play, they need to purchase the proper equipment and wear it or choose for the good of the sport (imagine that, putting something other than self first) to change behaviour.

As for the parents who quickly jump to the racist argument. Grow the hell up. Those are the kind of sports parents we don't need.

The ref. should have allowed her to play. Wwe know that we don't live in one society of all whites or Christians where one rule is applied to everyone. There should be exception to rules and that's why there are amendments to the United States constitution. We live in nation where each street represents a different nation. I'm talking about the diversity of our nation.
khalid

If the ref is going to pin it on the fact that she could get choked. then i'm going to say "get rid of laces because you could get tripped."

Ref was right! He's paid to enforce a sports rules, not religous rules.

Racism - for alah's sake - I'm getting very tired of constantly being pushed and pushed and pushed by this particular kind religious cow manure.

This instead is a child abuse story.

Someone has caused this little girl to believe that if she does not comlpy with this thousand year old religious symbol, she will be judged as evil. Today people - not 1,000 years ago.

This little girl has been taught that she can not go to her heaven and in fact risk a future in some form of ugly hell! Why are people condoning this form of mental abuse? Someone tell her, wear it don't wear it, no one in heaven cares.

A post below from a parent of one of the team members states that, contrary to the article, they were NOT aware of the rule before hand. Nepean plays under the Ontario Soccer Association (OSA) rules. The OSA's interpretation of the Canadian Soccer Association's own interpretation of the FIFA Law 4 specifically states that religious head gear "is permitted for use". So, yeah, they most likely would have been caught unaware by the referee's decision and would reasonably want to question or protest it.

A lot of people commenting seem to not realize that not all of FIFAs laws (e.g. Law 4) are written in stone, and there are regional interpretations of them. Ontario so happens to explicitly state, as a guideline to referees, that religious headgear is allowed, as are certain types of jewelry, such as smooth wedding bands and medic-alert bracelets (so long as they are taped).

In the history of the hijab, how many women or other players around them have been strangled by their hijab to the point of injury while playing any sport? I doubt it is a very frequent occurence (especially where it concerns other players on the field).

If this statistic is as low as I presume it is, then a hijab would not be proven to be dangerous to the competitor and FIFA law No 4 would not apply.

It seems that the rule being referenced doesn't specifically mention the hijab, but it appears that is how it was interpreted.

It is unfortunate that Quebec politicians are using this incident to try to justify pushing conformity upon other cultures in Quebec.

I applaud the teams who forfeited their games because of the referees decision.

This just ticks me off. The rules (whether agreed to or not) were known. The issue was forced by the coach of the girl's team. The ref stood by the rules (whether he agreed or not--that's his job). The lesson taught by the coach was that if you can't get what you want by fair means, go ahead and try and get it by foul.

The second part to the lesson he taught was: turn something into a racist/religion issue and you make headlines in the press--which is another way to force the issue and get what you want.

I'm sure he sees himself as a hero and a champion and the girls see themselves as being noble because they're supportive of their teammate. The coach is just a grandstander. What about teaching the lesson that there are ways to address differences of opinion that are respectful--like perhaps addressing the matter beforehand and work to get the rules changed?

I feel bad for the volunteers who worked to organize a tournament for the girls only to see their efforts ruined by such cheap tactics. It boils down to: I want what I want and because I want it, anything I do to get it is right.

Muslim IS NOT a race!

To, in knee jerk reaction, label the decision of the referee and the rule of the governing sports association racist just shows where our failed experiment in multiculturalism has taken us.

I agree with what Mr. Jean Charest said. Play by the rules or don't play.

it was interesting to read some of the comments although some showed ignorance and negative feelings and views.

I wont get into that, still one can feel there's progress on how Canadians look at Hijab, understanding it's merely a choice, exactly as for instance Sikh men choose to wear a head cover. This choice should be respected, and females wearing it should be able to practice their life normally, without being judged and with no discrimination.

I side with the referee in this dispute. This is a safety issue for all players, and not some attempt to be prejudicial to anyone or any race. Most parents, I'm certain, understand and respect the referee's decision.

Just to summarize the key points in the article:

1. The team knew the rules and chose to ignore them.

2. The organizers signed in the child in question and did not mention the hijab.

3. Sports hijabs are available but the child or her parents did not choose to purchase one.

4. The child had already played in two games in which the referees chose not to enforce the stated rules.

5. The third referee enforced the stated rule.

This is how I interpret the actions of all involved:

1. The team's coach chose to ignore the rule.

2. Again, right or wrong aside, the child was wearing an item that was forbidden by the rules.

3. The organizers should have mentioned the issue during the sign in.

4. The other referees should have enforced the rules, but failed to do.

5. It appears to me that the only person who actually acted as they were suppose to was the referee who enforced the stated rule. Perhaps it could have been done in a more tactful manner, but he did what he was suppose to – enforce the rules.

The complaints that have been outlined regarding the in ability of the hijab to injury the child may well be perfectly valid, however until the rule is changed to reflect this the decision is simple: either the child obtains a sport hijab; or does not play.

The issue should not be with the decision to enforce the rule, but the rule itself. Don't attack a volunteer referee, make this a political, or racial, issue; it is simply a rule that was enforced. If upon review it needs to be changed, so be it, however if it is a valid safety concern then let it stand; but this incident has already generated to much unwarranted controversy.

It seems to me a great deal of the problem here is a lack of understanding about how a Hijab is worn. A hijab is a triangular piece of cloth that is attached under the chin by a safety pin or in the case of a sports hijab by velcro. If the hijab were tucked under the shirt it would be out of the way, and in any case if someone were to specifically tug on it it would come undone. You are far more likely to be strangled by the completely circular collar at the top of your jersey.

That being said, the rule specifically sited "hijab's and other religious symbols" can not be worn. Why single out the Hijab in this rule? The safety argument wreaks to me.

It seems to me a more reasonable approach would be to regulate the kind of fastener the hijab has - i.e. velcro acceptable, but safety pins not.

Multiculturalism, and in fact pluralism, is all about making reasonable accomodations for the beliefs of others provided they do not infringe on your own rights and beliefs. If the Hijab can be worn safely - and I am sure it can - it should not be banned. Surely Quebecers must be getting tired of Human right's rulings, one after the other, in their province protecting the right of Muslim women to wear the hijab in the workplace, at Public Schools, and now at Private schools. It would be a shame if this soccer federation needed the Quebec Human Rights Commission to tell them this rule is bunk.

The rule is either ignorant or dicriminatory.

The Hijab is not a safety concern - if it were her parents would be the first to deal with it. Athletes wear head bands, wrist bands and their hair long in many different sports.

Put up your hand anyone who has ever heard of an athlete strangling on a piece of their own equipment.

Quit hiding behind the "rules". In the past there were "rules" that prevented athletes from competing based on the colour of their skin, their religious beliefs and their gender.

A referee is not there to simply enforce the "rules" - he/she needs to show some common sense as well. Azzy was registered for the tournament and played in 2 games with referees who showed some common sense.

Sometimes in life you need to stand up and be counted. Azzy and her teammates along with their coach and some of the other teams stood up - good for them.

Barb from Nunavut - your comments reek of ignorance and are the things that fuel the nastiness of bigots.

Ignorance begets fear. Fear begets hate. Hate begets war.

I have been a soccer referee for five years. I never let anyone wear a necklace, a hat or anything else forbidden according to the rules.

I would like to respond to the Muslim woman who wrote that Muslim women should be allowed to play. They are! The only condition is to follow the rules like everyone.

This story will be used ONCE AGAIN to try proving that Quebeckers are racist.

I totally SUPPORT the coach on this . Get with the program Muslims, this is for the kid's safety. Stop whining, we are not picking on your religion. I am so sick of listening to you people. GO HOME!!!

I agree with the decision made.

Rules are there for a reason, they should have to be followed no matter what your religion is.

I am sorry, and I know not everyone will agree, but get a life. The rules are interpreted for safety. You don't like it. Thats great. But before you pull out the "race" card, you better have proof that that call by that ref was racist.

You wonder why this country is going to hell in a hand basket? Its because we are too quick to whine and scream and complain about something that doesn't go our way.

If you don't like the ruling, don't play.

Wait. They knew of the rule before-hand but didn't expect it to be enforced. So when it is enforced you call him a racist and walk off.

Coach, GROW UP, if that's what rules are you should be the first to make it known to ALL of your players and You are supposed to be thier mentor!

Secondly, why would you allow yourself, or your players, to label someone a racist because he is doing his job by following the guidelines set out, he didn't write them on the day of the tournament.

I read one of the commentaries who stated that there is a place for "sport hijabs", if as a 'coach' you are so offended, research first, then try your best to accomadate both sides of the issue before passing judgement.

Here's what I sent to the Premier of Quebec:

Mr. Charest Your comments on wearing the hijab while playing soccer are profoundly ignorant. Here in BC, where soccer is far more popular than in Quebec, Sikh boys are allowed to play while wearing their religious headgear. It is not a problem and is never even remarked upon by players or their parents.

FIFA's rules in this regard are frankly irrevelant. Furthermore, elite female soccer players soemtimes wear protective headgear in order to prevent concussions from heading the ball.

Your comments are close to being racist and clearly are made with an eye on votes and not human rights

I have been a soccer coach for over 5 years and a soccer fan all of my life and this issue is just being blown out of proportion.

Why can Ronaldhino wear a head band? Why are players with long hair able to wear their hair in a pony tail or wear a bandana? And then why can't women wearing hijabs not able to play? Is there consistency?

I do not think its an issue of safety or about racism but about inconsistency. Why is this ref now not letting the girl play, yet she played other games in the same tournament the day before?

If a hijab is worn properly and tucked under the shirt it does not pose any more danger to the player or others than a head band or long hair for that matter.

Let the child play. If an organization is going to rule against it then let it be know to the teams. We decide which torunaments to attend and which not to. I'll cross this one off my list. Not going to go.

I am a parent of another child on Azzy's team. You all say racism isn't a part of this, well, you weren't in the store at the Laval sports facility just after all of this happened.

There, the girls from our team saw another referee take a towel and drape it over his head, saying rude things about their teammate. How do you tell them this isn't racial?

All they see is a friend who they play soccer with. And if the hijab was an issue (which, contrary to what was written, wasn't known to our team), why did the convenors register her (with a full visual check of equipment and uniform) and stamp her hand along with her teammates making her eligible to play??

Why was it suddenly a problem in their 3rd game? Moreover, why didn't this "professional" referee discreetly go over to her or to the coach and discuss it? Instead he chose to point and yell at her to get off the field.

He seemed to enjoy the power he had at that moment, over an 11-year-old girl. And quite honestly, a lot of the posters here don't know the whole story, so they shouldn't pass judgement on our team or our coach.

We all fully support what the team did in support of Azzy. And for information's sake...the other teams who withdrew felt the same and did so on their own accord. They should all be proud!!!

Let's cut to the chase. With the sidelines manned by a group of parents just waiting for a law suit to present itself, any game official must very strictly enforce the rules to avoid personal liability.

Even the girl's coaches should have been aware that, if she had worn her Hijab and been injured as a result, her parents could have dragged them successfully into court.

I'm surprised that anyone volunteers to coach or officiate children's sports any more. These people not only need to know the game, they also need to be experts in human rights and political correctness.

You're a hero until you make one little mistake or a politically incorrect remark and then everyone wants to crucify you.

Look at this poor guy. He enforces a rule during a children's game that, in his judgement, is in the best interests of a player's safety and what does he get? He and his decision get dragged through the media machine.

Those players, coaches and parents who withdrew in protest should think about the message they're sending to these kids. If you don't like something just storm out in protest. Don't discuss the issue. Don't try to resolve anything. Don't try to consider opposing points of view or understand the competing interests involved. Just throw your tantrum, take your ball and go home and enjoy your self-righteous indignation. Or maybe just sue somebody!

Good for the referee and the soccer federation!
Finally someone is standing up to the reverse discrimination that is occurring in this country.

As an Arab-Canadian I feel proud that the referee finally has stood up for the Canadian culture. If the people who refuse to adapt the cultural norms here, they are free to return to their countries.

There are a few things in question here:

1) The referee's role. The referee is compelled to enforce the rules of the tournament, regardless of whether he/she agrees with them or not.

As a dedicated soccer referee for some years, I have often been challenged by players and coaches on rules and laws that I am called on to enforce, but in the end, everyone must follow the same set of rules and they MUST be enforced.

Here in Alberta there is a zero tolerance policy on non-essential equipment, including rings, bobby pins, wrist bands, and other items. Everyone here is called on to follow the same rules. In the end, the referee enforced the rules of the tournament and did what he was required to do--any changes must be made at the organizational level and not on the soccer pitch on a case by case basis.

2) The purity of sport. Religion does not factor in to this decision at all--safety does. A good referee is interested in keeping everyone safe, and the tournament organizers are also interested in the same issue, thus the ban on any equipment not essential to playing the sport of soccer.

Having a clear, 100% ban means no group is given any special treatment. Everyone is held to the same standard, fair and even.

3) Canada's obsession with tolerance and cultural isolation. I am proud to live in a country where tolerance and acceptance is the norm. However, as Canadians, we seem to be so obsessed with differentiating ourselves from the American melting-pot model that we are dangerously close to reaching the other extreme--that of extreme tolerance, allowing seperate sets of rules for different groups of people based on religion, age, skin colour, or whatever other qualifiers we can find to differentiate ourselves.

This is not a positive step! Focusing on our differences and fostering that sense of "otherness" is creating a fractured, fragmented society. Tolerance, yes, but isolation, no.

As a muslim woman who wears the hijab it pains me to see many of the comments here either advising Asi to either take her hijab off or give up soccer.

Clearly, a religious conviction should not be the basis for exclusion. Like many have identified, the hijab is not necessarily a safety hazard. from the picture,it is hard to see what kkind of hijab

Asi was wearing, but I doubt she would have been allowed by anybody, especially her parents to be playing in an outfil that would jeopardize her safety.

At the same time I do understand why she may have been excluded from the game, in light of the existent rules. If nothing else, this event prompts soccer associations and other sports organization to be proactive, and to recognize that muslim women, like all other women around the world should have the opportunity to participate in sports. The challenge is to come up with sports wear that can be safe and religiously acceptable.

It is discouraging to have this event be another moment for arguing political correctness. Let's not blow it out of proportion.

It is about the game and having appropriate regulations that does not compromise the safety of any player. Let's just do what's necessary without making this another political fiasco.

The Ref was a Muslim enforcing the rules for safety; not sure where the "R" accusation can be justified.

Safety trumps everything in making a legal analysis of a situation in Canada. I do not feel that this is racism.

Can a happy medium be found with some sort of minor alteration to the head scarf to satisfy everyone: Safety and religion.

I can not stand racism and its prevelance in Canada's history and its modern forms: this is not outlawing a religous practice, which Canada has done in the past - this is safety for the kids.

I would say, save the racism argument for another day, which will come.

Well said David,however,that does not mean hijabs may or should be worn.It would seem to me this is a pretty loose interpretation of just what the rules are actually saying.And that is the problem.They do not specifically mention hijabs,very true,but some things are just common sense.

And again,if you take away the rights of many to accomodate just a few,you are going to have big trouble!

This need not be a racism issue.It is about following rules as they are written and not adjusting them to suit ones self or situation.I think the ref was right.

Good call!This should be the end of the story but I bet it's not!

This is exactly why people refuse to get invloved in organizing and helping out with sports and other kids activities. Way too much hassle.

If you give in to one group you get hassled by another. People get bent out of shape of the stupidest of things.

If you allow the headscarf then you must allow any religious item or you are called a racists. If you ban everything you are called a racists. If you do ten cartwheels for one group then the other group calls you a racist for not doing 11 for them.

I'm convinced that every single person on this planet is a racist based on the usage of this word.

I agree with Jason and others that the wording of the rule is the problem in this case. "The wearing of the Islamic veil or any other religious item is not permitted" smacks of exclusionism and racism.

While I agree that there may be valid safety concerns with the wearing of scarves of any type, necklaces, and other attire which may or may not be religious in nature the wording of the rule seems to indicate it is not the type of article being worn but rather the reason behind the wearing of it which is the cause for the rule.

A simple restatement of the rule to indicate that all head attire and jewellery and any other items which may pose a safety hazzard are prohibited would likely make this a non-issue.

Or as another poster suggested state the acceptable uniform explicitly and that no acceptions are permitted...though it does appear that there could be a possible acceptable alternative (the sports hijab) which should be investigated to determine if it could be offered as a viable alternative while not sacrificing safety concerns.

Steph

Let me get this straight;

The referee (who incidentally happens to be muslim himself though this really has no bearing whatsoever on the justness of his ruling) decides to enforce a long-standing SAFETY rule (that forbids wrapping things around a player's neck while running around the soccer field) of which the visiting team was fully aware (on their own admission), and somehow that's viewed as anti-muslim?

Give me a break. These kids are probably not allowed to wear a crucifix on a chain around their necks either, but you don't hear any hysteric lobbyists or pundits shrieking "racist!" about that rule.

If the people throwing around accusations of "political correctness gone mad!" would tone down their hysteria, perhaps those throwing around accusations of "clearly racism!" would do likewise.

In other words, chill people, you're bringing your agendas into a debate that might be about simple common sense after all. There is no specific provision in the Laws of the Game against hijabs.

Here is the relevant part of Law 4:

• A player must not use equipment or wear anything that is dangerous to himself/herself or another player

• Modern protective equipment such as headgear, facemasks, knee and arm protectors made of soft, lightweight, padded material are not considered to be dangerous and are therefore permitted

• New technology has made sports spectacles much safer, both for the players themselves and for other players

(Note that second clause in particular.)

Alongside the information about sports hijabs in the earlier post by E.B. of Ottawa, we can see that common sense should allow the wearing of an appropriately tight hijab.

That said, the referee was applying the rules of the game as he interpreted them, and there is no reason to accuse him of malice without more information.

This is a discussion that ought to have happened long before those players ever set foot on the field, and all the adults here bear some responsibility.

The ref made the right decsion. The rulebook Laws of the game (I think its pt4) clearly puts down the attire that the player must adhere to and if they dont they dont play. This includes no watches, rings bracelets earings ect. Plain and simple.

If people would use a bit of common sense and stop rolling all over the place in the name of polictal correctness and accommodation they would see this has nothing to do racism.

If a hockey player insisted wearing a hijab instead of a helmet and got injured there would be an uproar. This is like the example in the states where people refused to remove their bourkahs while having their license taken.

Great idea. I can bet there are alot who agree with this.Must not impinge on freedom no matter who is really getting the license. Those who cry racist should give their heads a shake. Leave religion out of it. Play the game.

The question really ought to be whether the Rule is discriminatory and not whether the ref made the right call.

The Ref applied the rule; so in that sense, he made the right call.

However, the rule states: "The wearing of the Islamic veil or any other religious item is not permitted." If I am to believe that this rule is about safety, then I would have to believe that all "religious" items are inherently unsafe (obviously that is not the case).

I believe that this rule is more about secularism thatn anything else; and that is perfectly consistent with the "hijabs in schools": debate that has been raging in Québec for the past few years.

If it really is a safety issue, then an easy solution would be to require that all hijabs be fastened by some small velcro or something that would release if it was heavily tugged on. Banning hijabs outright is discriminatory.

I applaud the Asi, her teammates and clubmates as well as her coach.

Canada has gotten way out in left field when it comes to religious and ceremonial issues and wanting to be politically correct!!

Make the rules for the game and stick to them.If someone is not willing to deal with that,don't play, and don't make any exceptions.That's just the way it is.Some things don't even need to be discussed.

It would seem that the basis behind all the disention stems from too much change,too fast.No doubt certian issues in canadian culture will change down the road,but if you take away the rights of MANY to enforce the rights of a FEW,you are going to have problems.

And that is what gets the old racism issue going in the first place.It is not the rest of the players on the other teams or the rules that need to change,it is the person wearing the head covering in the first place.

As a hockey referee I step on the ice each game fully aware that I will be named in any lawsuit that results from an injury in that game.

The rules clearly state that the referee is ultimately responsible for all safety issues. If a safety issue manages to slip past the organizers and onto the playing surface it's still the referee's duty, by the rules, to make the call, by the rules.

Whether the ref made his call based on religion or not, we don't know because we weren't there. What we do know is that every rule book in the country has a section on safety and will state quite clearly that players may not wear anything could cause injury to themselves or other players.

Lately organisations are having a more difficult time even finding decent referees, much less ones that will enforce the rules consistently.

With parents, coaches and players criticising and ridiculing them, referees find it far less painful to let certain issues slide. It's gratifying to see there are still a few officials out there with some spine.

This ref made his call according to the accepted rules and we are doing the officiating community as a whole a disservice by criticizing this him.

Having seem my fair share of grandstanding, I'm calling this a classic case. It's getting far more attention than it deserves and needs to be buried.

Of course the ref was right not to allow the hajib. It is a legitimate safety issue, and the rules disallow it. I am pleased to see that most of my fellow CBC.ca readers seem to agree.

As an interesting aside, a similar case happened in Australia I think about a year ago. The ref disallowed the hajib, but eventually the player was allowed to play. The ref was then disciplined and supposed to apologize for his conduct.

I am astonished that anyone can trumpet the “safety first” message when in fact there is no demonstrable correlation between the wearing of a hijab and increased risk of serious injury.

As someone who spent a good many years playing soccer, I would feel no more threatened by a hijab than I would by long hair or a lose-fitting jersey.

The arguments some have presented, from obstructing vision, to strangulation, are absurd. Even more troubling is the insinuation that it was the girl’s intention to incite a political debate.

As a white-Anglo “Canadian” I have not been on the receiving end of racial or religious discrimination – sadly, I need not look far to witness it. Many of you should be ashamed – if not embarrassed for your ignorance.

This kind of problem always seems to be blown out of proportion.

Is this a sacred cow we cannot touch! Or this this just another way for people from "other"places to confront the Canadian way of life.

The ref. is enforcing the rules...period. As a former basketball coach who has gone through the same "rule enforcing", i do respect his decision on the issue. I think it is about time we, Canadians, must stop feeling guilty for our way of life.

The solution is easy. Women who wear hijabs while playing sports should wear Sporting Hijabs.
The outdoor one even comes in red! (Asi's team colour.)
http://www.thehijabshop.com/capsters/index.php

Let's not make this more complicated than it needs to be. If it really is a question of safety, we have the solution. If it is a question of Islam, greater dialogue must be had. Can we not remain open to each other?

This is complete nonsense in so many ways.

First. How can the decision of the referee be racist, as described by the team in question, if the referee was, himself, a Muslim?

Second. If the team in question is from Nepean, then it must be assumed that this is a tournament where teams have traveled a fair distance as the tournament was in Laval? The teams that pulled out "in protest" have ruined the tournament for the organizers, other teams, and other parents who have sacrificed their time and effort.

Third. There are stringent rules regarding soccer attire. The "Laws of the Game" are to be strickly applied. The referees in our league will not even start a game unless the shirts are tucked in. As much as it pains me to say this, the referee is 100% correct. There is no leeway here.

This is political and sociological grandstanding. The officials of the teams that "quit" should be ashamed of themselves and be held accountable.

I'll bank this ridiculous situation for the next time some activist judge bars a Christmas tree from a courthouse.

why didn't she just take it off. young girls don't have to wear the hijab. also- no person 'has' to wear anything, it is
a choice. we all have to make sacrifices for choice. All through the 80s & 90s when i played organized sports, we always thought it was retarded to have to remove every piece of jewelry,etc. Even our necklaces with our crucifixes.

we just took them off and then astonishingly we were able to put them back on after the game and in the meantime God did not strike us down.

Ali Mallah - you infer that many postings on this subject have "hidden racism" and "Islamophobia". Besides 1 posting that clearly shows the huge ignorance of the writer, no others here have hinted at anything racist - or am I missing something?

While your comments to the 1 poster are very valid, you also are guilty of flaming this "Islamophobia" by insinuating that the rest of us have "hidden racist agendas".

I believe that the ref made the right decision. The team itself made a poor decision in knowing that there was a rule against something, and thinking that it would not be enforced.

This showed that they had the intent to go against the rules. This shows poorly on that team. It is like stating that for a 12 year old tournament you could bring 17 year old players because they were better and you didn't think that the age rule would be enforced.

The team should have brought this issue up to the organizing committee prior to the tournament, to see if there was a way to work around the rule, or to get the rule changed. This should have been done before the situation got to the ref.

I know that it is unfortunate that the teams had to miss the opportunity to play, but when one team deliberately breaks established rules without attempting to correct them before, it reflects poorly on the leadership of the coaches.

A word to Kiril Mazurek, who referred to a "country of origin":

I heard this girl and her mother interviewed on CBC Radio this morning. They were both very articulate and made their points calmly and respectfully - and if I heard correctly, her mother said that both she and her daughter were born and raised in Ottawa.

Perhaps it's time for you to reconsider your anti-immigration stance, at least with respect to this issue. This girl's country of origin is Canada.

Whereas I do feel for the girl who is at the center of this issue, I think this calling for blood of the Ref by many posters is very extreme,

I will agree that the rule is poorly worded, but the spirit of the rule is very valid, it could potentially pose a risk to the player, and lets say and injury had occurred as a result of the headscarf?

Does the liability not fall on the Ref or the league for not enforcing a very reasonable rule?

Of course it would.

The reality is the team and coach knew about the rule prior to the game and went ahead anyway, the fact that some folks are rallying around an opportunity to turn this into "religious symbolism" when its simply an issue of player safety is really odd.

Of course the ref was right.

A simple, unambiguous decision to enforce a long standing rule that exists in many sports is being turned into a political/religious issue.

If people feel the rule is unreasonable, or has unintended negative results that outweigh the benefits of the rule, then work to change the rule. But while it exists, you can exercise your freedom by either accepting the rule or refusing to participate.

But to condemn the ref or the organization for fairly implementing an existing and well known rule is extreme foolishness or hypocrisy, or perhaps both.

And the fact that the ref was Muslim is irrelevant. This game was about a sport run and participated in by volunteers, not a religion. That it appeared necessary to provide personal information regarding a volunteer shows how silly this has all become.

The rule is only proper if it truly aims to ensure the safety of the players. We must look to the quote provided:
"The wearing of the Islamic veil or any other religious item is not permitted"

Surely there are some religious items that would not pose a safety concern in a teenage-level soccer tournament, such as a Jewish kippah? The reasons behind this rule are clearly conformity, not safety.

A traditional hijab could pose a potential safety risk, and so the referee was right to disqualify Ms. Mansour from playing. However, I'm sure a compromise can be made that would allow her to play in the future. I'm sure a non-traditional head covering could be designed that would satisfy both her faith, and any valid safety concerns.

The referee was correct, but the rule should be modified so that it reflects the true purpose of safety, not conformity. Otherwise, this smacks of Herouxville-style thinking.

From the many posting on this list, It appears that there is alot of ignorance, mixed with what appear to be a " hidden Racisim" and a great deal of Islamophia.

The Girl's Coach ( who is not a muslim), the team memebrs ( Non Muslims) and another team (non muslim)walked off the game out of protest and disgust.
If you read what the team mates have said, I wonder if still fixated on your opnions.

I love this quote from " Kiril Mazurek"
"Aren't people getting tired of this. If they want to fight for democracy, they should do so in there country of origin. Many are saying this is not a religion, it's politic's....etc"

Well Kiril, how do you know that CANADA is not that girl "Asi" country of origin? been born in Canada and growing up in Canada, attending school in Canada, Playing soccer in canada...etc doesn't qualify someone to consider Canada its " country of origin?

Kiril, can you see the hidden R. in your message? or at least the ignorance!

The referee has a serious responsibility to implement the rule. If the accident that was feared happened, who do you think will be blamed?
The team, knowing that it is against the rule, still pursued to play the game. I think that ruins the integrity of the team.
The team should have followed the rule and dealt with the issue afterwards.

The rule was poorly worded. Instead of mentioning the hijab specifically, it should simply have said what pieces of clothing are part of a legal uniform. Then follow up that there will be no exceptions.

It is logical that sports injuries are more likely when there is jewelry or items around the neck. If the young girl was allowed to play while wearing the hijab and suffered an injury then who would be liable?

When playing a game that depends on an uninterupted field of vision such as soccer. Anything that has the "potential" to obstruct a players field of vision should be removed for health and safety reasons not only for the sake of the player wearing the item but for the safety of all the other players as well. This makes no difference if the player male or female health and safety must take priority 100% of the time with no exceptions.

While regretable that there are somce cultures that do not allow a "lattitude" in the demands for specific functions such as sporting events, that is not the fault of the event and the event should not be changed to accomodate one person.

This is a clear case where the good of the many (ie: their safety) clearly out ways the good of the one, and if some one can not resove the "differences" between the demands of their culture against the safety rules of a sporting event then I'm sorry to say that person (again I say this for both male and female players) should not play.

The team knew the rule and yet still chose to play in the tournament. The coach is at fault for allowing this to happen; the referee was just doing his job. But of course this will be flipped around and the league will be blamed for imposing a rule deemed discriminatory.

For some reason, some people think that rules don't apply to them. And of course now that this matter is receiving public attention (something the press just loves) we'll see the rule changed to satisfy a religious belief rather than a safety concern.

Great, next we'll let Catholic hockey players wear their necklaces and crosses during a game!

Well, here comes another apology even though it was the right decision and this clothing was deliberately worn to make the headlines.

Good call by the ref!

I think the referee made the right decision considering that childrens saftey comes before any religous beliefs.

I think it is was a brave decision but absolutly the right one. Would you let a boy in a wrestling tournament or a tackle football game wear a Kirpan? of course not.

Kirpans also known as ceremonial knives, cannot be worn, in sports it needs to be saftey first. If not don't play, as helments must be worn in some sports again its safty first.

Political correctness has gone too far.

If this was a country where individuals were actually allowed to take responsibility for themselves, this wouldn't be a major problem.

The obvious solution would be this:

IF this is a "safety rule" aimed at protecting just the individual wearing this item, and IF the individual and her family feels strongly and with religious/cultural conviction, that she should be allowed to wear it if she wants, then the family should be able to sign an additional waiver making them completely and totally responsible for any resultant injuries relating to this article of clothing.

Sadly, in Canada, our courts have watered down and weakened waivers over the years so as to make them worth very little. It leaves us with more rigidity, less instance of individuals taking responsibility for their own decisions, and less opportunity to be tolerant of choices made for reasons of culture or religion.

The referee and whatever rules was followed are wrong. We can’t speak from both sides of the our mouths:

- On the one hand we need immigrants to integrate and participate in the Canadian life and culture. On the other we want them to do it our terms, when they do participate

- Attitudes like what happened with this girl will force minorities to isolate themselves, and then play with a team that accepts them, so to speak. Then people will whine about enclaves, isolationists , etc

- For those of a certain race group who are concerned that minorities will take over, then you need to roll up you sleeves and make more babies, rather than being cry babies. Its simple demographics, not somebody coming in with grand designs to take over anyone’s turf.

- Minorities also have made sacrifices and contributed to what makes Canada what it is. To elevate one group’s contribution at the expense of another group is un-Canadian.

I would be willing to bet that if this girl had been allowed to wear her headscarf and was injured because of it, there would be a lawsuit against the organizers of the tournament.

I've coached soccer for a number of years and we always had rules that nothing was to be worn around the head and neck, no jewllery, no scarves, no hats.

I've had to tell many kids to take off hats, sunglasses, crosses. I could not risk the injury associated with these items. Ironically the people who would complain the most about removing an item are the same people who I suspect would sue in the event of an injury.

I think that this is a deliberate case of flaunting the rules for a grandstanding effect.

The team was aware of the rule and chose to ignore it. It is in place for safety reasons as well as secular. There is no place for religious symbols in a sporting event.

The referee did the right thing!

We would hate to have something happen that is so preventable.

Yes! The referee made the right decision. What would happen if he hijab got caught in the net during a spike and she suffered some head or neck injury that had some life changing ramifications.

You know who would be to blame? The referee of course! For some sort of negligence or something. It's good to know when our kids play sports there's someone looking out for them.

A good referee is one that not only knows the game but also looks out for the safety of all of their players.

So the story is basically, a muslim male, the ref, had a problem with a muslim female, the soccer player.

This led to 2 teams of children not being able to play their soccer game. Parents that took time from their day to watch their child play, were also not able.

This seems to be a muslim vs muslim problem, and as always the rest of the world gets pulled in to this nonsense.

Another tempest in a teapot.

If the rule is truly in place for safety reasons AND if the athlete truly feels a religious need to wear any particular item AND as long as the risk of wearing that item affects only that player then just have the parents sign a waiver stating that the league bears no responsibility for any mishaps resulting from the item.

Let the kid play soccer. If she strangles herself, well, she was warned.

Stories like this make you wonder if some people just get off on the confrontation.

If the rule causes an actual problem, it can be solved with reason. If the goal of the people involved is to rant and point fingers, then they got what they wanted, didn't they?

The word "racist" gets used in such silly situations. To those using it here, get a reality check.

Why must the race card be pulled for just about every reason these days? I am a very inclusive and open-minded person, but c'mon already. This has nothing to do with being racist, but rather the safety of the sports participant.

Many sports leagues - I play in men's basketball and soccer leauges - do not allow participants to wear anything that may pose a danger to the participant, or any others playing. This includes necklaces, earrings, bracelets, piercings, etc.

With the hijab having the very real danger of being accidentally grabbed, resulting in strangulation as the story mentions, I see no reason for the "racist" outrage against this referee.

If the rule was established for the sole purpose of making sure children do not hurt themselves, then this rule is completely understandable and acceptable. I'm sure there are rules against the type of footwear, clothing and accessories that players are allowed to wear as there is in all juvenile sports.

In my time we were not allowed to wear necklaces, therefore I had to remove my cross before playing. I did not believe this was prejudicial, because I knew the rule and knew WHY it was being enforced.

The team and player knew the rule before the tournament knew the reasoning behind the rule, seems to me the only reasonable thing to do would be to eject the player (probably the coach as well!). Is a male hockey player allowed to wear a turban when this impedes him from wearing a helmet?

Well, the team knew the rule against the hijab before they entered the tournament but they didn't care. They believed that they are above any law or rule that they don't like.

And now that the left-wing media are praising this team as heroes I guess they are right. Maybe everyone in society should just ignore any rule or law that they don't agree with.

Even though the referee was following the rules, I feel that he should have used some common sense and consulted with the tournament organizers before making his final decision on the rule.

There is no question that it is a rule that carries controversy but then does every referee follow the same rules all the time. I would be curious to see if there are any stats on injuries while wearing a hijab playing soccer or any other sport. Remember they are only 11 yr olds.

Although I understand that there is no harm with wearing the artical. Rules are rules, you have to fight the system from outside the arena not on the field. In this day and age where we try to accomidate everyone within reason.

I can see that the coaches were at fault for letting the problem get onto the field before a proper ruling was made. A whole team suffered because one coach didnt go to bat for one player and now they want to let everyone sufferand blame the system. Thats a shame

Aren't people getting tired of this. If they want to fight for democracy, they should do so in there country of origin. Many are saying this is not a religion, it's politic's. Fifty must change for one ?

Like one Muslim girl told my daughter at school,"One day we will be more than you and we will take over". What respect they have for our country. I don't think she talked like that at her immigration interview. A sad day for the Canadian's who gave their lives to this country.

The strength and wisdom of these young women is an example to us all. I applaud the courage of these teams who choose to leave the tournament in support of a colleague rather than be complicit within the racist structure.

I am sure that the rules were designed fo protection of players by a very well meaning and concerned governing body but there are tmes when common sense far out weighes the letter of the law.

I hope these teams got together in another venue and had a great day of socer and friendship. I am also encourged by such great coaching.

I am entirely disgusted by the adults in this story, not because this child was asked to remove her hijab, but because the adults around her have hijacked a safety issue and turned it into yet another ridiculous opportunity to create discord.

Any item around the head or neck or finger or waist of a player can easily be caught during a soccer game will very probably cause injury to the wearer and likely the other player as well.

This is why there are rules that players must remove anything from their bodies that might cause them injury and those rules are not related in any way to religion.

Secondly, sports in this country are secular pursuits. Go ahead and participate, but leave your religion at home, where it belongs.

It is frankly irresponsible for any parent or coach to puts religious symbolism before the heath and safety of a player and team mates and to then abscond responsibility by making an issue of discrimination and persecution. Children learn discrimination, hate and discord from adults and this is a prime example of how it happens.

How dare these adults inflict their narrow, personal interpretations of this religion on this girl and all the other players in this tournament – and all the others that will be affected by this incredible stupidity. It cannot be that the muslim god is so intolerant of a CHILD removing a scarf for the sake of her safely.

Julie Vincent

Let me get this straight. Everyone knew the rule before the game, but no one thought it would be enforced. Somehow this seems very typical of today's thinking.

If the rule was made sometime ago, it was likely because a player was injured or strangled somehow. Usually, rules like this are made as a reaction to an event.

As an indoor soccer player in a recreational city league, I am required to remove all jewellery including wedding rings, no exceptions. This is for safety. While it may or may not be an impending safety issue, nobody wants to chance the risk.

On the other hand, I sympathise with Asi and her fellow Muslims and teammates. Is it not right for her to remove her hijab before the game? I don't know if this is acceptable or not from an Islamic standpoint.

This is no different than the bicycle helmet rule for children under 15 years of age. Some religious minorities cannot comply with the rule, or can they? An endless debate that perhaps should be left up to the individual to decide.

If the rule is truly about the risk of strangulation, as the referee apparently said, then why is it written as

"The wearing of the Islamic veil or any other religious item is not permitted" -?

As it's written, the rule would apply to yarmulkes and many other things that do not pose a risk of strangulation - and in that case it seems to be more about conformity than safety.

Something doesn't add up here.

Yes, he did a right call.
You do not like the rules, change them.

We complain that no one following any rules and orders in our daily life.

Finally, someone is enforcing them.

If the rule specifically singles out hijabs and nothing else then it should be thrown out. However, if it bans similar items such as neck chains, scarves generally, etc for safety reasons then it sounds valid.

Although I question the effectiveness of a general ban of that nature, if exceptions are made for one group they have to be made for everyone and there is then no rule in place at all.

I also do not believe that wearing a hijab is a specific requirement of Islamic law either, so as with any strict interpretation of religion, exceptions should be able to be made by rational people. After all, even a predominantly Islamic nation like Turkey, does not allow hijabs to be worn in many circumstances.

As an extension of the issue as well, we live in a secular state with secular rules for very good reason. This continued polarization of society into various religious camps does us no good and not being able to temporarily remove a headscarf to comply with a safety rule at a soccer game is just ridiculous and sounds distinctly like it springs from a fundamentalist agenda.

Religious practice of any sort is a personal right but it is a right that is permitted within a secular environment and must therefore bend to fit with the greater society and not the other way around.

If the rule was established for the sole purpose of making sure children do not hurt themselves, then this rule is completely understandable and acceptable.

I'm sure there are rules against the type of footwear, clothing and accessories that players are allowed to wear as there is in all juvenile sports.

In my time we were not allowed to wear necklaces, therefore I had to remove my cross before playing. I did not believe this was prejudicial, because I knew the rule and knew WHY it was being enforced.

The team and player knew the rule before the tournament knew the reasoning behind the rule, seems to me the only reasonable thing to do would be to eject the player (probably the coach as well!).

Is a male hockey player allowed to wear a turban when this impedes him from wearing a helmet?