FB post re Spence’s debut..

No, I'm actually saying exactly the opposite!

 

Why? Muslims aren't or haven't been banned from playing for England have they? The truth is, and I say this having played the game to a good level, and managed grassroots for the last 4 years, there isn't much uptake for football within the Muslim community. There's no barriers, they just elect to do other things in the vast majority. Anyway, that's a digression. My point is that his faith is irrelevant.

 

I disagree entirely that faith is irrelevant. He represents that faith, and is a role model for it, in the same way that Mo Salah is for Liverpool and in the Premier League. Representation is important. The fact that there is an openly Muslim footballer playing for England, the first Muslim footballer to play for England demonstrates there's no barriers to other young Muslim footballers. He's a role model. In the same way Vimal Yoganathan is to young footballers of Tamil descent. The faith in itself is irrelevant, but the fact there's someone in that position representing them, means everything. Even more so now than ever given the rampant Islamaphobia in this country. Again, it might not be important to you and me, in the sense that it doesn't make a blind bit of difference who pulls on an England shirt, but it's important to someone.

I disagree with your point about the majority of Muslim men not being into football. When I lived and worked in Leeds, I became friends with loads of Muslim men, almost all of them had an interest in football. Though the majority tended to support Arsenal.

 

Maybe part of that is that growing up they don't/didn't see themselves in top level players.

It's easy enough for you to say it's irrelevant when growing up 99% of players that you can see as a role model looked like you.

 

How do you know there are no barriers though?

 

Well I would know wouldn't I? Managing at grassroots level, where people first start to play the game, there's no barrier to anyone joining.

Would you like to suggest any?

 

Physical appearance and religion are two very different things.

 

First thing off the top of my head. Ramadan.
Prayer times coinciding with training and matches
Fear of racism and islamaphobia from the football community
The fact that there is no rolemodel making it feel an unrealistic dream.
Lack of halal food in sports settings

 

Erm, just remind me how many Islamic faith countries participate in the World Cup etc.

 

Many. I admit I'm guessing here but I would imagine that the schedule of football training etc in Saudi Arabia is less likely to conflict with Muslim prayer time than the schedule of the training for the dog and duck in Barnsley.

That's another barrier actually. The amount of grassroots football sides that are linked to pubs.

 

The only thing that matters at the end of the day is that he is eligibale to play for England and has been deemed good enough, which on first glance he is.

Which ever imaginary being people wish to talk to in their heads is irrelevant.

 

I think it's an interesting thread this, with some great posts on it. I'm friends with many British born Muslims and they are all fixated by cricket. Salah is a great breakthrough player in the UK, but not born here. Let this lad encourage others to play for England. Pretty simple. Muhammed Ali was my hero as a kid. He was a Muslim. US born and originally Casius Clay, but inspired many to take up boxing, Muslim, or otherwise. Just once facet in a person, their beliefs. As long as he's not a racist, I don't care in a way, but role models are important.

 

Islam builds its own barriers.

 

What does that mean?

 

Frankly, you're guessing. Everything you've listed can be accommodated. And for all you know, they are or would be.

 

I've been a Spence fan for a while now. It's taken him a while to be an automatic pick for Spurs, if indeed he now is. Looks classy.

 

They are still barriers. You asked for barriers. I gave Barriers. Just because they can be accommodated doesn't mean they aren't barriers.

I don't recall anywhere where I said they are barriers that cannot be overcome

 

I see my scent has reached the ever-ready nostrils of the little left clique which seems to band together to take people down on here should they differ in opinion from them.

Just total whataboutery, supposition and guessing.

Djed Spence is a Muslim. I'm saying I couldn't care less if he is or not, makes no difference to me wanting him to do well for his and my Country. Apparently that isn't tolerant enough for some people... the far-left not being content and being unable to cope unless they're having a pop at someone for not being as woke, or empathetic or righteous as they are.

Oh what it must be like to be perfect.

 

I'm a bit confused. Who has criticised you? Who has said you aren't tolerant?

 

Prior to my retirement I worked in a Govt dept office in Tarn. A Muslim guy called Akter who hailed from Dewsbury worked there. He prayed 5 times a day was well connected to his local Mosque and had been on the ‘Pilgramage’ to Mecca a couple of times. I suppose what I’m saying is he was very close to his faith. Barnsley FC signed a Muslim player, can’t remember his name right, it could’ve been El Hamour (sp) Anyways, there was some discussion ( perhaps on here as well) about Ramadan and his training /playing schedule, with the need to take on board nutrition and rehydration etc. Apparrently the player said it wasn’t a problem. I asked Akter about this and said would he be frowned upon for this. Akter’s view was that if the player was ‘at peace with himself and God’ because he needed to eat/drink in the hours of daylight then that’s all that matters.