By Shelden Rogers
From the day Taren Singh started playing sports, he has been wearing a turban.
Singh was shocked when he heard about the Quebec Soccer Federations (QSF) ban on turbans.
People like Singh living in Quebec now face a problem with wearing their turban while playing soccer.
The QSF has cited issues related to safety that was not endorsed by FIFA.
Singh is a student at Bayside Secondary School and has been playing various sports in Belleville. He couldn’t believe the news coming from the QSF.
“I was shocked to hear that they banned turbans. I thought that in today’s society that racism and discrimination was over,” said Singh.
He has been playing sports for over 15 years and has never had any safety issues with his turban.
“Since the day I started playing sports I have always had my turban on. Basketball, soccer, volleyball, a wide variety of sports,” he said.
Singh said he has seen a lot of multiculture in Toronto and everyone is open to it.
“Throughout my high school career I have been playing sports, not one issue. When I was playing down in Toronto there was nothing, there is a lot of multi culture down there. It’s very open and equally fair. Coaches don’t say anything, refs don’t say anything,”
Much like Quebec Sikh soccer players, Singh is frustrated with the QSF’s ruling on turbans and doesn’t understand the reasoning behind it.
“Just because we wear something on our heads doesn’t mean they can tell us we can’t play. People wear headbands in sports. Lebron James wears a headband, that’s something similar. We are wearing a turban, why can’t we wear it in soccer? Just because it covers all of our head?”
For people like Singh, a turban is very important, and he won’t take it off just to play a sport. Turbans are commonly worn by Sikh men to cover their long hair, which is in respect of God’s creation.
“It’s more of a religious idea than anything. We are trying to respect what our ancestors did back before we were born. Taking it off just to play a sport would be defeating the purpose behind that,” he said.
FIFA has authorized turbans and has suspended the QSF for it’s decision to ban them.
Soccer players around the country are taking a stand against the issue. 20 teams are pulling out of a tournament in Montreal. Some players are even wearing turbans to protest.
Singh is proud of his turban and his religion
“It helps identify me as a person. It’s who I am. It helps show people that I believe in something and I believe in my religion. It helps me standup for who I am,” he said.