Soccer game called off over headscarf

[CShine]

A Women's Premier League soccer game was called off on Sunday after a player was told she could not take the field unless she removed her Muslim headscarf. A referee refused to start the game between South Melbourne Women's Soccer Club and Keilor Park WSC until South Melbourne player Afifa Saad took off her hijab.

"He said 'You can't play with it on. Is there something wrong with your head?' I said 'No, I'm Muslim'," Ms Saad told Channel Nine yesterday.

The sports fanatic, in her fourth season with South Melbourne, always plays in a white Muslim scarf and long track pants under her team shorts. It was the first time she had been asked to remove her hijab. When she refused, teammates and the opposition team supported her.

"She was crying when it happened. Her teammates rallied around her, which was great to see... they stood behind her and said we will not play now," South Melbourne coach Alex Alexopoulos said.

http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/04/26/1082831497725.html

[kixot]

1. The girl needs to take up the issue with her folks and customs.

I hate to say it, but rules of the game is rules of the game. Anything other than standard uniform are not allowed for a reason. Things can be hidden in clothing and problems can arise when a standard uniform is not followed. I feel sorry for the girl but nobody is telling her not to play. They just need her to play in the regulation uniform. If she can't do that let her catch weekend games at the park.

Note, I'm not saying that I wouldn't have just let the issue go, but I understand where the ref's coming from on this one.

[Eureka]

2. The bigger issue is

the ref was acting unilaterally (it's a big fad these days) The soccer association wants nothing to do with the issue, and she hasn't been stopped before. So long as there are no pins or anything like that, the association has said on the tv that they couldn't care less.

As far as I can tell from the news here, this was one ref deciding to be a prick for the day, and the whole team walked off the field in support.

[candy]

3. Are ther women's soccer teams in Muslim countries?

Not looking for trouble here,I really don't know.

[makhno]

4. Yes

Egypt and Morocco definitely have women's leagues and national teams. I have my doubts about the more conservative Gulf states.

[candy]

5. Thanks

I didn't know that!

[Guaranteed]

6. Okay, this I actually agree with.

In public, in public schools, etc., all religious clothing has to be allowed.

But when it comes to sports, there are rules. Sports teams all wear the same uniform, and leagues have regulations about this. This woman needs to take off anything that shows (i.e. any religious necklaces or other jewelry would be okay, if jewelry is allowed on the field at all) that is not part of the uniform or appropriate equipment (kneepads/elbowpads, whatever).

It's the frickin' rules. Sports teams pride themselves on the appearance of team cohesion. People can't just wear whatever they want on the field.

That being said, the referee could have handled the situation much more diplomatically. "Is there something wrong with your head?" is totally inappropriate.

[Spazito]

7. In reading the article, there was nothing in the rules that...

prohibited her wearing her headscarf and, indeed, the ref backed down but by then it was too late and the game had to be postponed. The ref was putting his own "take" on it and owes the young woman and her team an apology, imo.

[Guaranteed]

8. If there were no league regulations,

he most certainly does.