It happened in a cadet match between Arrigorriaga and Arratia C, at the Padura sports facilities. The visiting team gave entry at the start of the second half to Gurpreet, a young man wearing a patka, a kind of turban used by minors who profess Sikhism. The match referee urged the young man to take it off. The Arratia players interceded to explain that it is an element linked to his religion, with which he has always played. The referee insisted on his criteria. And the Arratia players kept their pulse: they decided to leave the field of play as a sign of solidarity.
The events, reported by the DEIA newspaper, and the gesture of Gurpreet’s teammates, have had sporting consequences for the Arratia Valley team. The Vizcaya Football Federation has sanctioned them with a fine of 300 euros and, in addition, they have lost the three points. In the Basque club they reaffirm and defend their performance. What happened, in any case, allows opening a debate on whether sport should respond rigidly or with some flexibility to similar situations that may occur in an increasingly multicultural world.
The referee justified his decision by alluding to the fact that the 14-year-old was wearing a hat, and explained to the players that it is prohibited according to the regulations. Before this match, however, other referees have avoided that interpretation and have acted with flexibility.
This is how Pedro Ormazabal, president of Arratia, explains it: “He has been playing normally for at least four years, both in children and in the first year of cadets. We have never had the slightest problem. It has been something that has been carried out with absolute normality. The first year we warned that he played like that, and everyone understood it.
In the past day, however, the situation was even “humiliating” for the youngster. “It was the start of the second half and, as soon as he came out and took his first steps on the pitch, the referee turned to him and urged him to take off his turban. In front of the whole world: of all the families, of the players… Such a matter cannot be left to the interpretation of the referees because what happened in Arrigorriaga could happen”, indicates Ormazabal.
Fortunately for Gurpreet, his companions did not hesitate to side with him decisively. “The kids were the first to support him. The coach did too. Afterwards, he was supported by the players of the rival team and the families who had attended the game, ”adds the president of the Arratian club.
The situation is not easy for a teenager who felt singled out for his origins in the middle of a soccer match (before the match the visiting team was not warned of any objections). “The situation is tough for a cadet kid, although I see him as strong. He is fully integrated into the valley, speaks Basque perfectly, like any other boy from Arratia, and is a boy loved by his classmates. In addition, he is a smart boy, quick-witted, and has clear ideas. Gurpreet has adapted to our culture and society, are we not capable of allowing him to play with a garment linked to his religion and his culture? ”, Indicates Ormazabal.
The Biscayan Football Federation maintains the punishment for Arratia C, for having left the field, and has not wanted to disavow the referee. In fact, it leaves it up to the referees to interpret the regulations on which the referee who did not allow Gurpreet to play with his patka has relied.
Since the match in Arrigorriaga -it was played on the 21st-, Arratia C has not played an official match again, since this weekend it was their turn to rest. This Saturday, however, he returns to the competition. The Biscayan club is confident that the painful situation that occurred at the Padura facilities will not be repeated. And they are clear that they will not leave Gurpreet alone.
