Referees have always permitted Gurpreet Singh of the Arratia C squad to wear his patka, according to the Sikhexpo Instagram feed, which cited the La Vanguardia newspaper.
Madrid: During a soccer match in Spain, a 15-year-old Sikh kid was told to take off his “Patka” (under-turban) by the referee since it was against the regulations to wear “a hat.”
Referees have always permitted Gurpreet Singh of the Arratia C squad to wear his patka, according to the Sikhexpo Instagram feed, which cited the La Vanguardia newspaper.
For at least five years, including his first year as a cadet and thus far this season, he has been playing normally. According to Pedro Ormazabal, president of Arratia, “We have never had the least difficulty.”
He said that the entire incident was “humiliating” for Gurpreet and that it had been handled with “complete regularity.”
The Arratia athletes, who were scheduled to compete against the neighbourhood Padura de Arrigorriag squad, stepped in to defend Gurpreet and clarify that it is a component connected to his faith.
However, Gurpreet’s teammates made the decision to leave the field as a show of support after the referee insisted on following the regulations.
“The first to stand by him was the children. The instructor was quite clear as well. Following the game, he got encouragement from the other team and the families who had come to watch,” Ormazabal was cited as saying on the Instagram page.
Gurpreet intends to compete once again in the hopes that the incident would not recur again.
“I hope the referee is willing to learn more about this and isn’t quite as obstinate as he was that particular day. However, I am pleased to witness the team’s unity! Much respect,” wrote Instagram user Jaskeerat Kaur.
Male football players may don turbans during games, according a FIFA regulation.
The hair of young Sikh boys is knotted on top of their heads and wrapped in a tiny underturban called a Patka.
