WATCH ABOVE: The Quebec Soccer Federation says if Sikh kids want to play soccer while wearing a turban there’s an easy solution: they can play in their own yard. Rachel Lau reports.
MONTREAL – All Simar Anand wants to do this summer is play soccer.
But he’s not allowed to sign up for any of the official leagues around his south shore home – because he wears a turban.
“Why does a turban have to pose a safety concern?” asked Anand. “If you can see any please tell me but we haven’t been able to understand their reasons.”
Last year, the Quebec Soccer Federation asked referees to crack down on religious head gear. They say they are following FIFA’s safety uniform regulations, which do not include the turban.
Read more: Quebec soccer association upholds ban on turbans on the playing field
“They claim that they’re governed by FIFA but frankly it’s about little kids wanting to play soccer,” said Balpreet Singh, legal council and spokesperson for the World Sikh Organization of Canada.
“You know seven and eight year olds so i don’t know what relevance FIFA has to that.”
The Quebec Soccer Federation even admits they don’t know what exactly they’re safeguarding against.
“We don’t know,” said Brigitte Frot, executive director of the QSF.
“And because we don’t know we don’t want to take any chance and that’s the thing, it was the same thing with the hijab.”
In April, the Canadian Soccer Federation asked all the provinces to allow Sikh players to wear their turbans on the field.
Quebec is the only Federation in the country to continue the ban.
“Well they can play in their backyard but not with official referees, not with official rules of soccer,” said Frot. “They have no choice.”
Almost 200 children can’t play soccer in the greater Montreal area because of the ban.
Listen: Brigitte Frot on Quebec’s ban on turbans in soccer
The World Sikh Organization of Canada recently released a statement saying that they are saddened by the Quebec Soccer Federation’s decision.
“We sent a letter in 2001,” said Singh. “Our vice-president in quebec has repeatedly called sent registered mail. There’s been no response, so until we have a real dialogue we can’t understand what the real reason is that the turban isn’t being allowed.
Until a change is made, Simar will have to make do with playing soccer in the park.
“How are we supposed to tell our younger kids, our sons and daughters, our little brothers and sisters that they can no longer play soccer in Quebec, simply because of what they believe?” asked Anand.
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