Goal.com Worldview: Is there A Place for Religious Celebrations in Football?

Across the world, we often see football players show their religious faith, most famously done by Kaka with his “I belong to Jesus” message in the Champions League finals of 2007.

The FIFA rulebook states, “Players may not reveal clothing that shows slogans or adverts. If a player removes his jersey and reveals a political, religious or personal statement, he will be punished by the organisers of the respective tournament or by FIFA."

Interestingly, UEFA are fine with religious celebrations as their spokesperson said,"We tolerate itas long as it doesn't harm or offend any group, person or society."

Here are the thoughts of our in-house football authorities:

To be frank it doesn't matter, for example Muslim players used to read Quran before the match and kneel when they score. I think it is freedom for religion side. But for political no way, it creates conflicts and racism, and so it must be banned - Mohammed Awaad, Goal.com Persia

My opinion is that an overtly religious statement has no place in football. A prayer, after a win or a goal, is universally recognized as a personal moment. I have no problem with that. But I was dismayed by the Brazilians' religious t-shirts after the Confed Cup final.  

Using the platform of a globally televised event to express one's religious beliefs is, to me, as inappropriate as a political statement. Considering religion's long history of confrontation and the many modern religious conflicts around the world, is "I Belong to Jesus" any less controversial than, say, "I Belong to the Republican Party" or "Kim Jong-Il Is Great"?  

Has Kaka', who has worn the "I Belong to Jesus" t-shirt before, ever been sanctioned by FIFA or anyone else? – Greg Lalas, Goal.com USA

I think every person should be free to show his religious faith...always – Fabrizio Ponciroli, Goal.com Italy  

No politics and no religion in football? Do they have to express what they think if they think? Is Kakà an example because of his T-shirt? No. The discussion should be about convictions and coherence. Kakà belong to Jesus and to Adidas and to Florentino. His shoes are done by children who earns 30 cent the day. Is this his Jesus? I think that’s his stupidity – Ivar Matusevich, Goal.com Spain  

My main point is that, at the end of the day, football must remain football. It becomes ridiculous when the captain of Brazil lifts the World Cup wearing a white religious t-shirt, and the 22 Brazilian players behind him are doing the same. There has to be some rules to keep football the traditional sporting spectacle it is, otherwise it becomes a farce. A society without some rules, and you have anarchy. So let everyone do what they want on the football pitch, and you no longer have football.

Regarding how do you separate politics and religion, in some countries I realise this isn't possible. But the crux of my message is that a simple message of religious 'love' is okay (if it doesn’t harm the football spectacle) e.g. a T-Shirt of 'I belong to Jesus'. Positive messages of religious love are fine, but outright extremism, which may be linked to politics, can be dangerous. For example, protesting against the government, which may or may not be right, can incite war, and is dangerous. I'm not saying it is wrong, every individual case is different, and in some cases where a political message really needs to be displayed, football can be the platform. Nevertheless, it can be dangerous socially, such is football's power – Carlo Garganese, Goal.com International  

Personally as a liberal, I disagree with all the rules imposed by any organization trying to halt the freedom of speech, no matter what someone says. Because I just can't see simply where this barrier must be put. I don't really understand what is religious and what is political.  

FIFA also should not forget that the very existence of some clubs is due to political or religious issues of their fans and their founding members. There are countless examples throughout the world with maybe the most well known this of Rangers and Celtics (at least for me). Just following or playing for a club might be a statement for something  

It's not FIFA's job to go around in every case trying to set the dressing code. If it's involved might give the whole issue more popularity and somehow in such cases all the solutions like quite ridiculous.  

Nonetheless, I believe that the Federation's people are more interested in the part of the rule that says "Players may not reveal clothing that shows slogans OR ADVERTS". It's the money that makes the world go round and that is what they are trying to control. Their product for more money – Michael Paterakis, Goal.com Greece  

To me football is an inherent political statement. Every time eleven players face eleven players in a fair match there are examples of meritocracy and democracy on the pitch.

While I personally prefer not to mix politics and football, to separate the two is virtually impossible. The footballing world united to kick South Africa out of international competition during the apartheid era, for example, and World Cups are by necessity bound up with government. To restrict political actions only to the money-men at the top seems to me to be an imbalance, no matter how tawdry I personally find praying on the pitch – Ewan Macdonald, Goal.com International    

Many South Korean footballers pray to God after scoring a goal. Joo-young Park (AS Monaco) is one of the most famous Korean stars who prays when he scores as a part goal ceremony. Many argue on his act as they believe it is not a good thing for teamwork.

Critics say that Joo-Young makes his teammates uncomfortable as his behaviour - prayer to God – forces them away from him when he scores a goal.

On the other hand, Park's supporters insist that Park's act is just his own free will and everybody has freedom of religion. Therefore, nobody can blame his own style of ceremony.I think that this is one of most argumentative issue in Korea. However, I think that nobody can stop a footballer's act whether that is religious or not. That's their free will. Also fans have their own free will. They can blame or support a footballer's act - Kim, Hyunmin, Goal.com Korea  

I'm agreeing with FIFA for once. The line between what I consider to be OK in terms of religious demonstrations on the football field (to cross oneself, for example) and the things I consider too much (like Kaka t-shirt or Brazils mass prayers) is too thin to be explained in the regulations. Fans shouldn’t have to be forced to see neither politics nor religious acts in a football field. Period – Martin Decaux, Goal.com South America  

I always thought football was a religion in its own right – Salvatore Landolina, Goal.com International  

While I do not consider football a ‘religion’ per say, it does have some aspects of it. It brings people together to celebrate a common event – the match being played. When players, like Kaka for example, show a t-shirt displaying their faith. I feel it takes away from the actual thing everyone is there to celebrate (being a football match and the teams involved) and shifts the focus elsewhere.  

Football has always been about teamwork and cohesiveness, it is ‘the sport of the world,’ I don’t see why something that could potentially damage that is brought onto the football field – Adam Scime, Goal.com International  

A player, who scores the goal, draws a cross on his chest or kisses the ground and points to the sky is celebrating and in his own way using his spirituality that gave him strength. Is it a religious act? Maybe...Is it a religious symbolism? Very likely...Is it fair to penalize the player? That is ridiculous.

My position is very simple. If a player who uses spirituality and religion to gain strength and therefore thanks his God for the help he got I am fine with it – Kaveh Mahjoob, Goal.com Iran

Football is an outlet of expression and players and fans will express their emotions, for better or for worse. Religious celebrations should be allowed as long as they do not affect football or the image of the game in a negative way. If Kaka finds relief and personal satisfaction in revealing that "He belongs to Jesus" or Lucio's T-shirt says "I love Jesus", then so be it as there is nothing harmful in that. After all, they are simply expressing themselves and in doing so are not stepping on someone else's toes or religious beliefs – Subhankar Mondal, Goal.com India  

Religion to the theist is laws of God. In the so-called modern world, it’s practically impossible to demarcate what’s religious and what’s political. They are intertwined thanks to the various contortions of the word ‘religion’ and the politicians using religion as bait to get their votes.  

“I belong to Jesus” indirectly states to some as “I am a right wing supporter”. I agree that when a player scores, the moment is highly personal to him but if he wishes to thank the Almighty, he should. Using the medium of T-shirts and sending out messages, though they may seem harmless to us, should be kept under a check.

The debate between the fundamentalists and the liberal shall continue over this topic, but a world without rules is unreasonable very often to human psyche.

Besides, as the Bhagavad Gita (3.21) states, “Whatever action a great man performs, common men follow.” This means that being on the pitch, there’s an onus on the players and a responsibility.

Freedom of expression is everyone’s right but when on a public platform, it’s always best to be a little cautious with one’s statements or behaviour as it may hurt someone’ sentiments or give free advertisement to someone – Rahul Bali, Goal.com India        

What do you think? Should religious celebrations be allowed? Is there a place for sending out religious or political messages through T-shirts? Goal.com wants to know your view...