Morenews.jpg

« India: Islamic Terrorist Gets Death Sentence | | Malaysia: Muslim "Refugees" Update »

October 31, 2005

Saudi Arabia: Soccer Rules - The Islamic Way

The Guardian today released details of a Saudi government "fatwa" on soccer rules, published in the newspaper Al Watan.

  • Words used by "heretics" such as "foul", "penalty", "corner", "goal", "out" should not be uttered by players. Those speaking them should be thrown off the game.

  • Do not follow the heretics regarding the number of players. Increase or decrease the number of players.

  • Play in your regular clothes or pyjamas, but not shorts or T shirts, because they are not Muslim clothing.

    I was going to continue, but this all too ludicrous to be fully believed. It is not April 1, so the Guardian can not be pulling one of its clever "April Fools" stunts. I believe that, with Eid ul-Fitr coming up, the Al Watan newspaper was having its little festive joke, and the Guardian has taken it seriously.

    At least I hope this is a joke. If not, soccer players in Saudi Arabia will not be playing soccer but another game entirely, akin to Trobriand Island "cricket".

    To make up your own mind, please read: A fatwa on football.

    I have been urged by my colleagues to add more details to this article, even though it makes me feel decidedly odd, for some reason. So here are two more stipulations from the 11 articles of the soccer "fatwa":

  • Young crowds should not watch players, because if players are there for sport and to strengthening your bodies, why should anyone watch? Watchers should be encouraged to join in the game, or tell them to go away and proselytise and "seek out morally reprehensible acts in the markets and the press and leave us to our physical fitness".

  • After putting the ball between the posts or uprights, if someone runs to get his friends to follow and hug him like players in America and France, you should spit in his face. "You should punish him, for what is the relationship between celebrating, hugging and kissing and the sports that you are practising?"

    I can't carry on describing this stuff. It is too much. I can't make out if it is meant to evoke howls of laughter or to be taken absolutely seriously. Saudi Arabia is hardly the land of jest and laughter, so it gives me an uneasy sensation interpreting it. You will have to read the rest yourself. I can't go on - sorry....

    Morenews.jpg

    Posted by Giraldus Cambrensis at October 31, 2005 8:20 AM

    Comments

    Post a comment

    Thanks for signing in, . Now you can comment. (sign out)

    (If you haven't left a comment here before, you may need to be approved by the site owner before your comment will appear. Until then, it won't appear on the entry. Thanks for waiting.)


    Remember me?