Olympics 2024: To stand with Muslim athletes, reject France's hijab ban

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Written by northsouth

Category: Sport

Published: 23 September 2023

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PARIS - The inaugural edition of the Summer Olympiad took place in 1896 in Athens, Greece and involved 241 athletes from 14 countries, all of whom were male and either European, Australian or American.

Over a century later, the International Olympic Committee has made significant strides in embracing inclusivity, encompassing diverse races, nationalities, religions, and abilities into the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

However, as the upcoming Paris 2024 Summer Games draw near, they are bound to ignite passionate discourse around the true values of sport on and off the field.

Due to its fundamental doctrine of laïcité, a hardline interpretation of secularism, France remains one of the few nations that prohibit Muslim women from wearing the hijab in public spaces and in the sporting arena. Last month, girls were even banned from wearing the abaya in schools, with many sent home due to their religious wear.

Now, a crucial question thus looms over Paris 2024: Will France, while hosting this international competition, continue to enforce the restrictions it imposes on its own citizens? Will it attempt to extend its prohibition to the athletes of other nations as well?

We witnessed a sneak preview of this impending clash earlier this summer during the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. Nouhaila Benzina, a Moroccan defender, made history as the first football player to wear a hijab at a FIFA World Cup.

Although initially a substitute for Morocco's opening match against Germany, she later played a pivotal role in bolstering the Atlas Lionesses' defence with outstanding performances.

In France, however, right-wing and sensationalist television channels like CNEWS and BFM TV provided platforms for polemicists to criticise and demean Benzina.

"The hijab signifies that a woman has to be prudish, and I agree that this is an incredible regression,” opined journalist Philippe Guibert.

France remains the only country in the world that upholds a ban on the hijab on the football field based on its interpretation of laïcité. Earlier this year the Council of State upheld the ban after it was challenged by grassroots footballers, claiming it was permissible to “avoid clashes”.

Since the hijab became a FIFA-authorised article of clothing on the football pitch in 2012, never has there been an incident where it has caused a clash or confrontation.

In response to global backlash, proponents of the French stance, like noted French physicist and feminist Annie Sugier, often cite article 4 of the FIFA statutes and article 50.2 of the Olympic Charter as proof that international sporting bodies themselves have justifications for banning the hijab built into their laws.

The argument Sugier makes is a precarious one. For instance, it is difficult to see how article 4 of the FIFA statutes, which bans any form of discrimination, could be interpreted as an argument to ban the hijab in the field of play.

In fact, it can definitely be argued that article 4 makes a stronger argument for allowing footballers to wear the hijab rather than banning it.

Article 50.2 of the Olympic Charter is a little more complex.

It reads, "No kind of demonstration or political, religious or racial propaganda is permitted in any Olympic sites, venues or other areas.”

Anyone with even cursory knowledge of the history of the Olympic Games knows that political and racial demonstrations have always existed both at the state level and at the individual level.

Actually, athletes in protest have often forged some of the most positive and memorable moments in Olympic lore. For example, everyone has seen the 1968 Black Power salute by John Carlos and Tommie Smith, which protested racial injustice in America.

There are even modern movements seeking to abolish 50.2 and promote athlete activism that conforms to the ideals of the Olympic Charter.

The other central problem with 50.2 is its wording. What exactly qualifies as propaganda? Does the personal decision of the length of an athlete’s uniform make them a religious propagandist?

According to many French politicians, it does.

The French Minister of Sport Amelie Oudéa-Castéra and former French Minister Delegate in charge of Citizenship Marlene Schiappa both claimed that the main justifications for banning the hijab in football is to nip proselytism in the bud.

Personally, I've yet to see any hijabi footballers try to actively convert their teammates or opponents on the pitch.

Furthermore, anyone with any knowledge of French football knows that the football pitch is not areligious. Male footballers of all religions openly pray before, during and after matches and no one lifts an eyebrow.

It isn’t at all rare to see Catholic players cross their chests as they step onto the pitch, or Muslim players do a grateful sajda after scoring a goal.

For decades, devout male Muslim footballers have grown their beards and worn spandex leggings to cover their bodies, but the extra bit of fabric on top of a women's head is what seems to have set the trigger off.

And that is the heart of the matter.

Proponents will argue that a hijab ban defends secularism, or prevents clashes, or even that it is somehow a hygiene issue.

But the uncomfortable naked truth is that the hijab ban in France is much more about an obsession with controlling women’s bodies and denying Muslim women agency to express themselves than it is about preserving neutrality in sport.

If such a ban is upheld for the Paris 2024 Games, it could affect several world-class athletes. Previous Olympic Games set the stage for iconic hijabi athletes such as Egyptian bronze medalists Hedaya Malak and Giana Farouk, and American fencer Ibtihaj Muhammad.

Those three, amongst many others, have become positive role models for little girls around the world. But that never would have happened were they banned from participating in the Olympics for nothing more than their headscarves.

So what will the International Olympic Committee do if France insists on a blanket ban of the hijab during Paris 2024? So far, no answers or official position have been issued.

Yet the longer this question is allowed to linger, the more harmful it will be to Muslim women in France and around the world, who are left to wonder whether the international community will stand by them in this assault on their liberty.

Maher Mezahi is an Algerian football journalist based in Marseille. He has covered North African football extensively, with his work published in international publications such as the BBC, The Guardian, The Times.

Saudi Pro League spent $750m on global football stars

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Written by northsouth

Category: Sport

Published: 24 August 2023

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RYADH, SAUDI ARABIA - Saudi Pro League top scorers 2023-2024: Ronaldo, Neymar, Benzema, Firmino – who will win Golden Boot after $750m spend?

Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, Karim Benzema, Abderrazak Hamdallah – who will be the Saudi Pro League top scorer and win the 2023-2024 season golden boot?

For the Saudi Pro League it started with Cristiano Ronaldo, but nobody could have imagined it would end like this.

England beat Australia 3-1 to reach final

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Written by northsouth

Category: Sport

Published: 16 August 2023

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SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - England's Lionesses made history as they beat Australia to reach their first ever Women’s World Cup final on Wednesday.

Ella Toone, Alessia Russo and Lauren Hemp were the Lionesses’ heroes as they secured a 3-1 victory and set up a meeting with Spain in Sunday’s final.

Captain Millie Bright said: “I think it’s a moment that we’ve wanted for so long, we had amazing success last summer, but we always knew there was something missing and it was the World Cup."

England and Australia were both bidding to create their own slice of history by reaching a first Women's World Cup final.

Tournament co-hosts Australia had never gone beyond the last eight of the women's football showpiece, while favourites England were playing their third World Cup semi-final in succession.

But after Sam Kerr had levelled in sensational fashion for Australia following Toone's fine opener, it was England who took control of the second-half to create history.

Victory meant that Sarina Wiegman became the first coach to lead two sides to a World Cup final after being at the helm of the Netherlands four years ago.

The Lionesses were still missing Lauren James, their top scorer at this World Cup, following her red card and two-game suspension against Nigeria.

Meanwhile, Australia welcomed back captain and all-time record scorer Sam Kerr, who plays for Chelsea, to their starting XI following injury.

After a frenetic opening where both sides failed to get a grip on the game and had chances apiece, England took the lead after baseline creativity from Russo and a stunning strike from Toone inside the box.

It was the first goal Australia had conceded in over three games, as England went into half-time 1-0 to the good.

England fans were also out in force to support the women's national side across the country — and celebrated in buoyant fashion when Toone struck the opening goal of the semi-final.

But in the 63rd minute, England lost the ball and Kerr produced a sensational strike which dipped over Mary Earps as Australia equalised in style.

With the second-half lighting up following Kerr's piledriver, it was England's turn to regain the lead.

Eight minutes later, Lauren Hemp latched on to the ball after confusion in the Matildas' box and slotted calmly home for a 2-1 lead.

As time ticked and the Matildas looking for a late leveller, Russo found space in the box and directed into an open net to spark joy with four minutes' remaining.

Victory was much deserved after their second-half dominance as they set up a final showdown with Spain on Sunday.

Wiegman told the BBC: “We achieved the final and it’s unbelievable, it feels like we’ve won it.

“But we won this game, it’s an incredible stadium, an away game, of course it was a hard game but again we found a way to win."

England defender Lucy Bronze was overwhelmed after finally reaching the World Cup final at the third time of asking. She had featured in England’s previous semi-final defeats in the last two editions.

She said: “This is the one thing I’ve always wanted, to be in the final of a World Cup and after two times of getting such disappointment, I honestly can’t believe it.”