Last week French Muslim soccer team Creteil Bebel refused to play a league match against Paris Foot Gay (right). Earlier this week, they decided to play the game. Now, the Muslim team has been expelled from the league permanently for refusing to play against another team in the league based on discriminatory reasons. According to the Associated Press:
“It’s a permanent exclusion, they will never be reinstated,” league president Jacques Stouvenel said.
on Oct 15th, 2009 at 7:37 pm
serves the bigots right
on Oct 15th, 2009 at 8:21 pm
Right On!!!
on Oct 16th, 2009 at 11:18 am
Only part of me likes this outcome. I think I’d prefer they meet on the field and play a game and get to know each other. That is the main way we break down stereotypes.
Of course there may be more to what’s going on in the league than is being reported.
on Oct 16th, 2009 at 12:55 pm
I agree with Charlie. Sure, punish them. But the goal is always to educate, no? The only lesson they’ll learn here is that - once again - the French are picking on their Muslim citizens. Or they’ll learn the gays have power and they don’t. Whichever they take away would not be good.
As Charlie said, there may be more there than what we’re seeing.
on Oct 18th, 2009 at 12:46 am
Had they discriminated against a second team? The AP report didn’t seem to suggest this…
I’m no fan of homophobia or any other bigotry, but it seems to me that the immediate problem was addressed when Creteil did an about-face and agreed to play PFG as scheduled. Granted, one could say they only did a 180 because of the outcry - but wouldn’t this concern have been best addressed by a public reprimand (or formal letter of public apology as a condition of readmittance to the league)?
on Oct 19th, 2009 at 2:15 pm
It would have been greater punishment if the muslim team had played PFA and lost, or played them and won, and had to go through a shirt exchange.
on Oct 19th, 2009 at 5:43 pm
It would actually help if the muslims who live in France would integrate into French society…but to the main point, its not wise to kick someone out simply because they dont believe or think the same way as someone else. Best revenge any team can get is to whip up on the offending team. Healthy competition fixes alot of problems, and could actually give understanding an in.