An amateur Muslim soccer team has provoked an outcry in France after refusing to play against a team which promotes homosexual rights and has gay players.
The Creteil Bebel Muslim team pulled out of its planned tie with Paris Foot Gay (PFG) at the weekend, saying it went against their religious beliefs to play against homosexuals.
The PFG said they would sue Creteil Bebel for homophobia, but the team defended the pullout, saying religious convictions were much more important than any sporting event.
“As a Muslim, I have the right not to play against homosexuals because I don’t share their ideas,” Zahir Belgarbi, one of the team directors, told France Bleu radio.
Read the full article here
What do you think about this? Should players’ beliefs make any difference on the field?
UPDATE: Creteil Bebel agreed several days later to play against Paris Foot Gay after all. “In no way is this a Muslim team,” said Creteil Bebel’s lawyer Bénédicte Puybasset. “Some members are Muslims but none are fundamentalists and some are not Muslim. It’s just a bunch of friends who like to play football after work.”
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8 comments so far
Would the Muslim team play against a team of Christians - after all, they “don’t share their ideas”, either. In fact, both teams would consider each other infidels/hell-bound non-believers, so it would seem somewhat inappropriate to engage in friendly sportsmanship. Or is it simply that some Muslims, like many Christians, pick and chose who to unleash their bigotry on?
- Posted by andrewSince when is “homophobia” actionable, even in France?
- Posted by Tim of AngleYet another example of people justifying their bigotry with religion.
- Posted by cheeseThey are wrong for this, and I tell you why. So would they play someone who drinks alcohol after the game, or a team, that one of the players has a live in girl friend. So what makes that sin any bigger than other sins.
It is ignorance gone to sea, and set sail.
Why not be a good witness to them when they play them….and pray for them
But they are going to pick one sin in the world to hold up in judgment, churches are just as guilty for this very thing
Dominick from
- Posted by Dominick VillapianoWSOPNE.org
World School Of Prophecy & News Events
This guy dominick is real pain from villa of count D. Add some humor to your post man… Enough of prayers of sin… pray something good like peace for all… The way you go you will beat the mulla who prays five times a day.
- Posted by TNT BomBlasticWhat does sharia say when guys jump on the back after scoring a goal… Is this prohibited in Muslim team from France? Do they wear Sharia Clothes? Is the ball Sharia complaint? Is the land Sharia complaint where they live or they are making religious effort towards making France sharia complaint? If the land is not sharia complaint then do these guys exit to mecca?
- Posted by Mecca SheriffJust when you start to think theists are bigoted, hate-filled, self-rightious, medieval barbarians….
…Something like this happens to reinforce your opinion.
- Posted by HmmmThis is an insult to the gays. I hope the gays rape these Muslims. If these guys can’t face gays it should be mandatory that these guys need to face gays only in all walks of life like, special gay police to deal with their problems, gay teachers, gay doctors etc. This is what the new Le Sharia of France says.
- Posted by Uh Oh! Ouch!!!