Should kids be allowed to wear turbans when they play soccer?

The Quebec Soccer Federation upheld its ban on turban-wearing players this week, setting the province's soccer establishment apart from the rest of Canada.

While some are applauding the decision to ensure player safety as FIFA —the soccer world's governing body — decides on its guidelines, others say that the ban reeks of the Parti Quebecois government's ongoing pursuit of removing all things non-French in Quebec.

Thomas Bink: This one’s pretty ridiculous. We’ve decided that Sikh soldiers can wear turbans in the military and Sikh officers can wear turbans as members of the RCMP. But Sikh kids can’t wear turbans when they play soccer? Crazy. Clearly there’s more to this than meets the eye. Clearly this is just Quebec trying to eliminate anything that is not French-centric … and stomping on minority groups in the process, truly a double-standard considering they are always crying foul and demanding special treatment as a language minority in Canada. The Quebec Soccer Federation should be ashamed on this one.

Andy Radia: I completely agree with you, Tom. This is an example of Quebec politics at its worst. Every other province in Canada allows kids to play soccer with turbans as per a non-binding directive from the Canadian Soccer Association. For the Quebec association to come out and say it's for the safety of kids, when they can't cite any examples of injury or harm, is disgusting. Bravo to the federal government for speaking strongly against this. Hopefully the pressure from them and others can help in changing the Quebec federation's edict.

Matthew Coutts: You aren’t going to get much issue on that with me, fellas. It is hard not to see the politics in this decision. The Canadian Soccer Association says do it one way. The Quebec federation balks and says, no, our way is better. But we can’t dismiss their reasoning. Just because a child hasn’t been hurt doesn’t mean that it couldn’t happen. Considering it is children’s sport, safety concerns should be paramount. If this debate moved onto the hockey ice, how many people would support children wearing a cloth turban instead of a solid helmet? Let’s remember that FIFA, soccer’s international oversight body, is still on the fence about this. They are allowing children to wear turbans on an interim basis while they consider approving them. If FIFA isn’t sold on the safety of religious headwear in soccer, can we really fault Quebec for sticking to their guns? Since when is taking a proactive stance on children’s safety a bad thing?

Bink: Right, I get that, kids’ safety is always paramount. But I honestly don’t think we’re talking about safety on this one. I think it’s all about politics. And it’s a shame, because in order for Quebec to push forward its minority agenda, the province has to strip rights from other minorities. Just a shame. One day we’ll look back at all this and shake our heads. Countries around the world are probably already doing that.

Radia: Matt, I think your argument would have more credence if it was about hockey or if other provinces had the same policy. This is indeed about politics. It's just sad that the ones that have to suffer are little kids; little kids who just want to play on the same team their friends are on. It's a disgrace. And Tom, I'm not waiting to shake my head — I'm shaking now.

Coutts: Shake your head all you want, the whole thing stinks. There is nothing like the politicization of youth sports to make everyone sit up and take notice. But as long as the international body hesitates on changing its policy, Quebec has a valid shield. Those of us outside Quebec can’t do much to change that. It’s up to the people affected to voice their concern. The Quebec federation says children wearing turbans can go play in their backyards. They should, and the rest of the kids should join them.

Bink: The whole thing stinks, that's for sure.