CARNAL NATION

What was supposed to be a friendly but competitive match between two teams in an amateur soccer league in Paris has turned into a national debate over religious beliefs and homophobia. Paris Foot Gay, a diverse soccer team comprising both straights and gays that seeks to overcome homophobia in sport, was slated to play against Créteil Bébel, a team of practicing Muslims. However, the night before the game, the Créteil Bébel coach abruptly cancelled the match, writing in an email to the opposing team, "Sorry, but due to the name of your team, we cannot play against you. Our beliefs are far more important than a football match." By refusing to play the gay team, the Créteil Bébel coach violated the rules of the city-sponsored league, which has signed a binding charter against homophobia, thereby risking his team's future.

The Paris Foot Gay players and coach (who himself is Muslim) were both shocked and disappointed. "It's unbearable and intolerable. Many religions are represented in our team. There are Christians, Jews and Muslims, including our coach, who is wounded by this rejection," said team president and co-founder Pascal Brethes. He adds, "What would happen if teams refused to play practicing Muslims?" Indeed.

As the league commissioners pondered what sanctions to impose on Créteil Bébel, a media frenzy began. Coach Zahir Belgharbi found himself on the defensive and attempted to qualify his reasons for canceling the match at the last minute. He told reporters that it was the name of the opposing team that was problematic, not the sexual orientation of the players.  "I'm not homophobic. I am not a fundamentalist. I do not mind playing with gays, but not with a club with that name," he said. He pointed out that his team is not called the Islamic Soccer Club and wondered why his erstwhile opponents had to bring ideology onto the field. He added, "Me, all I want is to play soccer." Most in France wondered why he simply didn't play.

The city government of Paris has even gotten involved in the situation, releasing the following statement: "The purpose of sport is to bring together across these differences and to strengthen links between the various components of society. The refusal to play a game solely because of the personal orientation of opposing players is particularly serious and questionable." The official statement continued: "Since its inception, the Paris Foot Gay [team] conveys the core values of respect for others, diversity, tolerance and generosity." Clearly, the Créteil Bébel team abdicated its reponsibility for good sportsmanship, and the media and other sporting organizations were quick to point that out publicly.

However, some of the players for Créteil Bébel also had something to say. Ben, the captain of Créteil Bébel, appeared on a radio program, categorically stating, "There are fourteen of us on this team who do not agree with this polemic. We can play this match. While many of us are shocked by the name of the team, we do not endorse the email sent by our coach." The debate continued to rage in the press as representatives of both teams and the league negotiated a rematch.

First, the game was on again. Then it was off. Then it was on again in the form of a gala match against discrimination. Now, the rematch is definitively off because the Créteil Bébel players did not want to play under the media spotlight, all of them shocked that this controversy has grown to national and international proportions. The Paris Foot Gay players are angry, releasing the following statement after their opponents renewed refusal to meet them on the pitch: "This refusal, after several days of silence and conflicting signals, says volumes about the underlying reasons that led them to refuse to play a simple football game against us." Everybody loses now, but Créteil Bébel suffers the greatest defeat. The city-sponsored league in which they play may expel them from the league. For its part, Paris Foot Gay has announced that it still intends to play a game against discrimination. It will do so November 14 and will field anybody who wants to play.

[via Têtu]