CSA takes action: Quebec Soccer Federation suspended

The Quebec Soccer Federation didn’t relent on its ban of religious headwear. On Monday night, the Canadian Soccer Association decided to suspend the provincial organization, the latest step in an escalation of hostilities between Quebec and Ottawa.

The Canadian Soccer Association’s board of directors voted that it had made the move to ban the QSF. The announcement was made Monday evening.

“The Canadian Soccer Association has requested on 6 June that the Quebec Soccer Federation reverse its position on turbans/patkas/keski with no resolution,” said Victor Montagliani, President of the Canadian Soccer Association, in a release issued by the CSA. “The Quebec Soccer Federation’s inaction has forced us to take measures in order to ensure soccer remains accessible to the largest number of Canadians.”

Quebec is the only jurisdiction in Canada that bans players from wearing turbans, patkas or keski on the field of play. In April, the CSA issued a directive that the religious headgear should be allowed — a motion that was aimed directly at Quebec. But, two Sundays ago, the QSF decided instead to uphold its ban and flout the CSA directive.

The CSA has now taken the next step — which is to toss Quebec out of the Canadian soccer family. The CSA stated that once the QSF has demonstrated that it will allow the turbans, patkas and keski in its sanctioned games, it will be readmitted.

What does the suspension mean? This all came so quick, that not even the CSA itself has all the details. As of Monday night, it could not specify how it would impact national tournaments or, possibly, Montreal’s role as a Women’s World Cup host city.

If Quebec teams can’t compete in nationals, and the ban isn’t dropped, then Royal-Select Beauport, the team that won the senior men’s nationals last season (CLICK HERE), wouldn’t be able to defend its title.

But what the CSA was sure of is that “It does not affect the Impact in any way.” The Montreal Impact will play, business as usual. Remember that professional teams in Canada are sanctioned directly by the CSA, not the provincial bodies.

Quebec is in the midst of assembling a “national” team that will go to the Tournoi international des Peuples et des cultures in Marseille. (CLICK HERE) A Quebec team is also planned for the Viva World Cup in 2014; that’s an event that allows cultural areas that aren’t recognized as FIFA members to play against each other.