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Should Footballers Be Allowed to Celebrate With Religion?
Comments(21)There was a familiar site on display after Sunday’s Confederation Cup Final (above). Not just Brazil lifting another trophy, but Kaka’s famous “I Belong to Jesus” t-shirt, which he apparently got back from the dry cleaners just in time to wear for the final. Several of Kaka’s teammates also wore Jesus themed t-shirts, and the team got down on its knees to celebrate together in prayer, which you can see at the end of the video above.
No harm in that, right? Well, depends who you ask…
I’m sure most people, like me, thought nothing of it. If Brazilian players want to wear t-shirts about Jesus and all kneel down together, then it’s none of my business.
But Denmark Football Federation Secretary-General Jim Stjerne Hansen has pointed out that religious displays contravene one of FIFA’s laws.
Here’s FIFA Law 4, Decision 1:
Players must not reveal undergarments showing slogans or advertising. The
basic compulsory equipment must not have any political, religious or personal
statements.
A player removing his jersey or shirt to reveal slogans or advertising will be
sanctioned by the competition organiser. The team of a player whose basic
compulsory equipment has political, religious or personal slogans or statements
will be sanctioned by the competition organiser or by FIFA.
[from page 20 of the 2009/10 FIFA Laws of the Game (released today!)]
And here’s what Jim Stjerne Hansen had to say yesterday:
“Personally I do not think that sport and religion should be mixed to such a degree that we more or less see a manifestation of a religious stance,” says Hansen.
“Just as we reject political manifestations, we should also say no to religious ones. There are too many risks involved in clubs, for example, with people of different religious faiths,” he says.
Obviously FIFA hasn’t cracked down on the Brazil team, because that definitely would have made the newspapers. In some ways this is tricky stuff, and so FIFA appears to be tuning a blind eye.
But mostly it’s just common sense. If a team wins a trophy, and wants to celebrate by holding hands and kneeling in a circle, then that’s up to them. They’re not mocking any other religion or pushing their beliefs on anyone else. And if Brazilian players want to wear t-shirts saying “I Belong to Jesus” and “I Love Jesus” then that’s up to them too. It’s a personal message. If the message was “You Belong to Jesus” or “You Should Belong to Jesus”, then we’d have a problem. But it’s not, so we don’t.
The rule clearly says that the religious statements shouldn’t be on the basic equipment, and that would be on the jersey, and it does not include the shirt under that one. The one that does include the second one is the rule against comercial slogans, meaning that they did nothing against the rules.
To see that when a player celebrates asking for the release of a criminal or sending simpathetic messages to one of them without any problem, and seeing such comments because a player celebrates stating their thanks to God, shows how troubled the world is, and that’s simply sad.
Finaly, al, religions are (mostly) not against homosexuals. They are against homosexuality, as they find it unnatural, etc, etc, etc. They are against acts, not people. Unless we’re talking about fanatics or fundamentalist, but those guys have no idea of what they’re doing.
I agree with Al. Although the message does not directly say ‘you,’ the fact that it is blatantly and excessively paraded in front of the cameras shoves the message in the face of the viewer, implying that the viewer should heed its meaning. Obviously, with those celebrations they create an association between their victory and their worship of Jesus, perhaps creating another implication that other religious worship (i.e. Iraq/Egypt and the muslim faith) did not/does not lead to victory and thus is not the righteous or proper path to success.
Nothing will most likely come of this, but there should be sanctioning. Earlier in the season Kanoute got in trouble for displaying a religiously fuelled political message addressing conflict in the Middle East at the time. Just because there are no controversial current events concerning Christianity floating around in the news presently does not give the players the right to advertise their religious message to millions of viewers.
I usually don’t give these things a second thought either, since many footballers display unintelligent messages that shouldn’t be taken too seriously (cough cough Dani Alves’ chest). However, when players like Kaka–who are brilliant on the field and central to the world of football–constantly promote their faith (after every goal celebration), I think it is a bit suffocating to the neutral fan base.
Posted from 
United States
Please, spare me the overenthusiastic attempts at Political Correctness. Taking it that way, you guys should be offended by a necklace with a cross on it based on what it means to Christianity.
You’re only offended if you WANT to be. And in this day and age, everybody seems to like feigning “offence”.
Posted from United States
I’m firmly in the “don’t much care” base. Back in 2006, a number of Ghana’s Muslim players knelt down in prayer after scoring against the States. Same situation, and I don’t remember so much as a “nay” after that incident. As long as the message is done in a respectful manner and clearly doesn’t put anyone else down, FIFA should just let it go.
What about Brazil’s badge? It contains a cross. Portugal, Sweden, goodness knows how many others.
Force them all to redesign? Force them all out of Fifa? Force them to read Christopher Hitchens?
MM: “cough cough Dani Alves’ chest” — the tatoo on Alves’ chest says “Daniel F.” which stands for “Daniel Filho.” Which means Daniel, Jr. — meaning his newborn baby boy.
I’m a Brazilian and I frankly can’t stand the way our national team has been taken over by the evangelical born again Protestant wave that started in the 80s. Previous Brazilian footballers were religious too but they didn’t come out with these Jesus t-shirts. I also know for a fact that not all of the players are evangelical or religious in any way and feel some pressure in going along with the religious celebrations.
That said, it’s not something FIFA can do anything about, nor should they.
Posted from United States
religion is a part of these individuals lives and play. Wheater it be the Muslim celebration of the Egyptians, the t-shirts of the Brazilians or the catholic crossing of catholic players through out the world. You should not take away these players right of showing and practicing their faith. If you are truely bothered by it I guess you would need to not watch the first few seconds of every half and goal celebration from pretty much most games as there is generally some display of a religion going on.
Posted from United States
Maybe God does play soccer. 
Brazil has done this with every trophy that they’ve won. There are as many “I love Jesus” shirts as trophies for them.
FIFA isn’t going to do anything about it.
Posted from United States
As a Brazilian I can assure the readers that most of us (this continent-size country with 180 Million people) won’t agree with neither this rediculous Viking statement nor the people who should be ashamed of defending a facism take over mentality these days!
I am absolutelly convinced that what our National Team did should be applauded and appreciated by the real football fans who want to see players taking it seriously, showing commitment to themselves and their people. It was a simply recognition that nothing is done without union and faith in the One who makes all things possible and is the source of any good thing we see and do.
The trouble is that even a simply and harmless demonstration of faith and devotion is a huge threat to the capitalism pigs that believe they own the souls and hearts of players who wear their logos over their chest!!! Suck this NIKE!
Posted from 
United Kingdom
“It was a simply recognition that nothing is done without union and faith in the One who makes all things possible and is the source of any good thing we see and do.”
It is your oppinion, William. In Brazil there are many people who don’t believe in God. Are they represented by this mostly pentecostal team as well? Cause I’m not so sure about this.
What about a brazilian jew, or a brazilian that follows an african religion? Are they represented?
Should they ban these celebrations? Maybe that would be too harsh, but the players should at least have the common sense not to engage in a disguised indoctrination of their faith after they win a championship.
Posted from 
Brazil
Freedom of expression = Freedom of speech = Freedom of religion = Freedom to express one’s expression about their religion. PC people can go jump off a cliff for all I care. If my pub team ever makes it to a grand final, I am going to get one of these “I belong to Jesus” shirts and wear it with pride!
Posted from 
Australia
We have separation of church and state. Should be the same thing with football, Barry.
I wouldn’t like to watch a political figure talking about God all the time. That’s why a lot of people in the US didn’t like George W. Bush.
What has politics to do with a national football team? They both represent the entire population of a country (or at least should)
Sorry, but associating a national symbol to a single religious faith is not freedom of speech. It’s quite the contrary.
And btw, the cross on Brazil’s football badge is an Order of Christ Cross, an old symbol that dates back to the time when Brazil was a portuguese colony. The religious meaning has been lost a long time ago.
Posted from Brazil
Actually let them glorify God if they want to and I would too if I played in the field who cares! If its not hurting you physical why should it matter to you! Jesus needs to be heard and that is why God blesses them because we glorify Him no one wonder why Brazil is the best team player =]
I’m sick of this political correct bullshit. Freedom of expression affords them the right to celebrate in anyway they see fit barring it does not directly attack another. If it offends your personal sensibilities, grow a pair of balls.
On the other hand, stop peddling your shit to others. I don’t give a flying fuck if you worship some bloke named Jesus, Satan or Batman. It’s called personal faith for a reason. Unsolicited religious recruitment makes me as sick as the people who think that this should be an issue.
How’s that for acerbic? 
Also, let’s not forget that: typical politically correct behaviour = “Oh it’s their faith, it’s called freedom of expression, if you complain about it you are persecuting their religion!”
Associating a national symbol to a single religious faith IS NOT freedom of speech!
Ok, I’m done.
Posted from Brazil
Ramirez do you even know what you’re talking about. We didn’t like George W. Bush, even though he got more than 50% of the vote, because of his policies. His religion had nothing to do with it, in fact that’s the reason he won.
Posted from United States
Oh come on! Now people are moving away from the main focus that was about our national team expressing their faith to the matter “are all the other faiths being represented as well”?
I doubt these people know anything about our vast multicultural background which makes it fairly clear that you bet our team has got representatives from most major religions (what to say about Dan Alves jumping 3 times before joining the game? Afro regligion ritual, pal!)
Anyways, what the whole world saw was FIFA’s Top Team on their knees praying in an ecumenical moment when some of the most successful Christians players these days were wearing a “Jesus’ T-shirt”. No harm, no threat, no TNT attached to their chest!
Now, the viewers were as free as anyone else to change the flipping channel and watch whatever they wanted!I cant believe people saying: “I had been exposed to something I didn’t belive in” !!!
If that’s not the most stupid, retrogade and selfish mentallity I don’t what’s it then!
Posted from United Kingdom
Giampero: One of the reasons people didn’t like him. Sorry.
William: Fair point but changing the channel is not really an option because the team is a national symbol, therefore represents all the people. It is not the same thing as watching a TV show you don’t like.
Brazilians have been celebrating with religious manifestations for a long time. Ive lost count how many times Ive seen a player score a goal and celebrate with the sign of the cross. My guess is that people didnt complain back then because It was not as EXTREME as it is nowadays, as a couple of people in these comments have pointed out.
Posted from Brazil
Fifa is complaining about Brazil because Brazilians are Christians but Fifa is not complaining about Egypt because Fifa (like the rest of the Western World) is scared of Islam.
Double standards and PC world, welcome to the future.
Posted from United Kingdom
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In an era where they are starting campaigns to drive homophobia out of football, one would need to check the message of the religion. If either catholic or born again, it is against homosexuals. The problem with allowing the Brazilians’ statement is then you must look at the specifics. If they all had shirts saying “I heart Satan” of course FIFA would be upset. The Brazilians should be sanctioned- period.
Separation of church and my religion (football) please. FIFA should start following their own rules.
Posted from
United States