MONTREAL – Pauline Marois is coming out kicking in defence of the Quebec Soccer Federation and its refusal to let turban-wearing kids play the sport.
The Canadian Soccer Association suspended the provincial association on Monday after it showed no sign of overturning its controversial decision to to uphold a ban on Sikh turbans, patkas and keskis on the soccer pitch.
The Quebec premier says it’s unacceptable that the national organization would suspend her province’s soccer federation.
Marois says the Quebec soccer body is autonomous, has a right to establish its own rules and is not bound to the Canadian association.
The Quebec organization cites safety concerns for banning turbans, and points out that the world governing body, FIFA, doesn’t specifically allow turbans.
But critics counter that FIFA’s rules don’t explicitly ban turbans, either.
“It should be FIFA that examines the possibility of changing its rules.”
Marois, leader of the sovereigntist Parti Quebecois, said she supports the orientations of the Quebec body’s decision.
The Quebec Soccer Federation did not immediately return calls Tuesday about the suspension and is expected to hold a meeting on the matter later Tuesday.
The national organization said last week it expected the Quebec association to reverse the ban, which has drawn international news coverage and condemnation from several federal politicians. It says the Quebec organization will be suspended until the turban restriction is overturned.
Its unclear how the suspension might affect Quebec’s soccer players. A spokeswoman for the Canadian Soccer Association said Tuesday that she did not have specific details on the suspension.
The impact, however, could be felt in a variety of ways unless the situation is resolved soon, according to Canadian Soccer News.
Its website said the suspension could prevent Quebec all-star teams from playing outside the province, and even cancel games within Quebec that involve a nationally certified referee. If the suspension lasts a long time, Quebec youth teams could also be blocked from participating in national championships, it also reported.
“We see no valid reason for why kids should be banned from playing soccer because of their religion.”
During question period in Ottawa on Tuesday, André Bellavance, a Bloc Québécois MP for Richmond-Arthabaska, asked for Minister of Sport to call for the Quebec Soccer Federation to be reinstated. He noted that the conservative ministers and Liberal leader “are banning thousands of young Quebec players from participating in Canadian and international competitions.”
“It should be FIFA that examines the possibility of changing its rules instead of attacking young players of Quebec.”
The Minister of Sport Bal Gosal responded by saying that soccer should encourage participation rather than exclude children.
“We see no valid reason for why kids should be banned from playing soccer because of their religion,” he said.
“I encourage the Quebec Soccer Federation to follow the lead of soccer leagues across Canada and the Canadian Soccer Association and not create barriers for children who want to play the sport they love.”
Even the president of Major League Soccer’s Montreal Impact has weighed in on the turban-ban debate.
“All parties involved must find some common ground for the good of the sport.”
Joey Saputo said in a statement that kids should not be prevented from playing soccer because they wear a turban, but added that he thought the Canadian Soccer Association’s decision to suspend Quebec’s federation over the issue is “clearly exaggerated.”
He said the Quebec organization’s decision to ban turbans was based on a FIFA rule that is open to interpretation.
Saputo added that accusations of racism against the provincial federation were uncalled for considering the context of the Quebec body’s decision.
“The Canadian Soccer Association made a recommendation and did not officially state its position to provincial federations,” said Saputo, who also urged those involved to resolve the situation.
“All parties involved must find some common ground for the good of the sport.”
Read Saputo’s full statement here.
Shortly after the suspension was announced Monday, some of those who opposed the ban said they welcomed the national body’s tough-love approach.
Immigration Minister Jason Kenney tweeted his approval: “Good to see CDN Soccer Association take action against the Quebec Soccer Federation over its ridiculous turban ban.”
Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau echoed the sentiment, tweeting that “Barring kids from playing soccer because they wear a turban is wrong. The CSA is right to suspend the #QSF.”
The CSA reports directly to the FIFA world body and is responsible for granting or revoking the membership of provincial federations.
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