MONTREAL – An advocacy campaign has been launched in Quebec after LaSalle Minor Soccer Association decided not to allow Sikhs with turban and patka to participate in Soccer games in the province.
“We have written to the president of the Soccer Club Authority Sofio Pagliaro, and also to the technical director. “The response received from their secretary clearly indicates that they do not have jurisdiction in offering exemptions to FSQ, CSA & FIFA regulations” said Sukhwinder Singh, director of United Sikhs, which has launched the campaign.
“We have made it clear to the president that this decision is against the basic principles of human rights and is hence a violation of the Canadian Charter of Rights,” he said.
“The decision was taken a few weeks ago and they have not only banned these aspiring players to play but also went a step further and canceled their registration and returned their registration money,” the NGO has said.
Deepinder Singh, community advocate of United Sikhs revealed that they had got in touch with other soccer clubs of Canada. “These clubs have not only shown their displeasure with LaSalle Minor Soccer Association but are also willing to support our advocacy efforts on this issue,” he claimed.
The feedback from the local community of Quebec indicated that there haven’t been any such issues in the past. “These issues have surfaced this year after the inception of new technical director,” the NGO said. Its community director Ranbir Singh, said, “We think that the LaSalle Minor Soccer Association is acting against their own constitution and policies”.
Aneel Singh Samra, one of the affected Sikh youth, has decided to challenge this ban and expressed his resolve to pursue the matter.
