Muslim boys school soccer team “felt uncomfortable” playing against girls

A SCHOOL soccer match was almost called off because some Muslim boys didn’t “feel comfortable” playing against two females in the opposing team.

APRIL 11, 2003: Generic photo of Blake Spriggs (11) getting some last minute practice in with his soccer ball before mum Lea...

A MUSLIM boys school refused to play soccer against a team while it had two girls in it, forcing the female players to the sidelines so the match could continue.

The match, in Caledon, Canada, almost stopped at half-time when boys from the INSA Private Islamic High School took issue with the fact their opposing team from Robert F Hall Catholic School had female players, Metro reported.

Carla Briscoe and another girl only played in the team because there wasn’t a girls team in the grade. In a recent match when they were ahead 3-1, the boys school team told the referee at half-time some of them felt uncomfortable playing against females and would have to forfeit the game.

But Carla and the other girl — knowing their team needed a certain amount of goals to progress in the tournament, and not wanting to let their team mates down — agreed to stand aside so the game could continue.

“I was upset, I just didn’t feel like I had finally made the progress to be on the team,’ Carla told City News.

While she said she understood “their culture” she worried it would put other girls off playing sports.

Her team ended up winning 6-1 but both teams may potentially face each other again later in the season.

After the match Essa Abdool-Karim, the coach from the ISNA Private Islamic High School, they were unaware that girls were allowed to play in the league, even though the rules clearly set out it could happen.

‘Free mixing is generally something we do not do, more so out of respect than anything,” he said.

He told City News: “We want them to understand this balance between religion and having to sacrifice the sport you love is a difficult situation.”

If they face the same team again he doesn’t think they will play them, but added they were trying to find a solution to the problem.

Originally published as Muslim boys school soccer team “felt uncomfortable” playing against girls