Turbaned youth and children will finally be allowed to play soccer in official games in the province of Quebec. The Quebec Soccer Federation drew worldwide attention for banning turbans on the pitch.
One reason given was that the turbans posed a safety risk even though no one could cite a case where someone got hurt playing with a turban on. The second was that soccer’s world governing body, FIFA, did not allow turbans. When FIFA officially stated that turbans were allowed the Quebec federation reversed itself and removed the ban on Saturday.
Controversy raged initially when the head of the Quebec Soccer Federation told reporters Sikh children could play in their backyards. Brigitte Frot later apologized for that comment.
Politics came into the incident when the provincial ban on turbans incited the Canadian Soccer Association to ban the Quebec Soccer Federation. That outraged the premier of the province of Quebec, Pauline Marois, who said the Quebec organisation should be free to make its own decisions, unfettered by the Canadian association.
Meanwhile the kids just want to play soccer and now they will get their wish.
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