Soccer + Hijab = Are you kidding me?

So, once again, one of our Muslim young sisters is being banned from something because of her headscarf(hijab). This time, it was in Quebec at a soccer tournament. The sister’s name is Asmahan (Azzy) Mansour of Ottawa and she was championed by her team the Nepean Hotspurs and four other teams who all pulled out to protest the ref’s decision to pull Azzy out of the game. The story is all over the news (see here, here and here)

Of note is the focus on two things: the first being that the Quebec soccer federation is saying that headgear is not allowed on the field. This is a lie, there is absolutely nothing in the rules about headgear! (see second article above)

In fact, the FIFA rule cited by Ms. Ouellet does not specifically mention headgear. It simply says a player “must not use equipment or wear anything which is dangerous to himself or another player (including any kind of jewellery.)”

Also of note is the fact that (some) media is focusing on the fact that the referee who dismissed her off the field was a Muslim. Like that makes any difference at all. He was obviously instructed by the likes of Ms. Ouellet above telling him that the headscarf is banned. Had he not brought it up they would have probably reprimanded him for being biased and not enforcing their discriminatory rules.

In fact, I think we should be truly thanking this man, her coach, who decided to pull out his team and he had 4 other local teams pull out of the tournament. He also promised that they will never return until the rules have been changed. This is the man that represents what Canada is all about, in my opinion. Namely that stupidity is not tolerated, especially when it infringes on the rights of people. So please, email these people and congratulate them on the move that they have made.

The email addresses are: for the Nepean Hotspurs at info@hotspurs.on.ca and for Mr. Louis Maniero at gabe.joe@sympatico.ca

NOTE: I got these email addresses of the website above.