Contribution of religious minorities in enriching European football: FIFA World Cup 2014

2014 FIFA world cup in Brazil has lessons for all nations, particularly Muslim nations, to use the potential and talent of minorities for their own benefit.

Not all news from Europe about minorities particularly Muslims is negative, thankfully. France won 3-0 in its first game in the ongoing 2014 FIFA world cup in Brazil against Honduras thanks to Karim Mustafa Benzema, a Muslim of Algerian decent, who scored all three goals. The country recently banned public display of religious symbols that has deeply affected minorities like the Muslims (naqab or face veil) and Sikhs (turban).

Switzerland which recently banned constructing minars in Masjids in the country, had both the goals in its 2-1 win against Ecuador in its first game scored by Muslims: Harris Safirovic (Safeer) and Admit Mehmedi (Ahmed Mahmudi).  Gökhan Inler, the captain of their team is a Muslim. Of the 23 players in its World Cup squad, 8 players are of Muslim origin, mainly from the former Yugoslavia (Albania, Bosina etc). Goal scorer Haris Seferovic, was also a part of the Switzerland’s Under-17 side, almost half of whom were Muslims, who won the Under-17 tournament for them a couple of years ago, considered by many as the pinnacle in the history of Swiss football. Not long ago until 2008, former Switzerland national footballer Kubilay Türkyilmaz, a Muslim of Turkish origin, was the country’s highest goal scorer.

From Europe, we either hear allegations of minorities like Muslims and Blacks living on doles/ state support and many of them bearing large number of children or on the other hand hear stories from the minorities of discrimination against them (not getting equal opportunities - in employment, sports etc). Such mutual distrust has resulted in acts in recent times that have not helped the social harmony.  For a change the ongoing football World Cup provides examples of how minorities have benefited from their adopted countries in Europe on one hand and on the other hand how those countries have benefited by giving equal opportunities to visible minorities (minorities of colour, minorities of language, minorities of religion etc). Of the 13 countries appearing in the ongoing FIFA football World Cup in Brazil, 5 have Muslims playing for them. Apart from Muslims there are other minorities like Blacks who are playing for almost all these 13 teams.

German world cup squad player Mesut (Masood) Oezil was hailed in 2010 “as a prime example of successful integration into German society” which won him the prestigious Bambi prize in the "Integration" category.  Mesut has no qualms on speaking about his Muslim background and says he reads Quran before the start of his game. But he also gives his best to whichever team he plays - particularly his adopted home country Germany. Mamadou Sakho currently a part of the French 2014 World Cup squad grew up in the slums of Paris to play for well-known European club FC Liverpool. He proudly says how he sent his father to Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia with his first pay check. Recognising their contributions top European clubs like Bayern Munich and Manchester United have built All- Community Prayer Halls and Masjids that cater to the spiritual needs of their players without discriminating against minorities.

Such stories are good examples to all countries, particularly to those Muslim counties that have a sad record of denying equal opportunities to their minorities. Taking every one along benefits the society and by discriminating against minorities – religious, linguistic, etc, the societies and nations miss such wonderful talent that can otherwise contribute to a nation's progress in its various fields from science and education to sports and arts. Muslim countries like Pakistan should look at how minorities in India have contributed immensely to the progress of the country in every field – be it Tatas or Azim Premji or the Khans of Bollywood. And those who oppose equal rights to minorities either in India or anywhere else in the world should remember what India’s science and technology field would have missed if our ex-president APJ Abdul Kalam had not received equal rights!

For a ಕನ್ನಡ version of this published in ಲಂಕೇಶ್ (Lankesh) click here 

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ANNEXURE/ REFERENCES: 

A) List of Muslim players in some European squads (of 23 players) at FIFA World Cup 2014, Brazil and sources of information related to individual players:

   France:

     1) Karim Benzema http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karim_Benzema

     2) Moussa Sissoko

     http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moussa_Sissoko

     http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/newcastle-united-create-prayer-room-1807302

     3) Mamadou Sakho

     http://eng.islam-today.ru/news/i-sent-my-father-to-mecca-for-the-hajj-with-my-first-paycheck-the-defender-of-fc-liverpool/

     4) Bacary Sagna:

     http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bacary_Sagna

     http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news-and-comment/fasting-and-football-how-do-topflight-muslims-cope-2342187.html

   Switzerland:

     1) Gökhan Inler  

     http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G%C3%B6khan_Inler

     2) Granit_Xhaka  

     http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Granit_Xhaka

     http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a95paOKmhnQ

     3) Xherdan Shaqiri  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xherdan_Shaqiri

     http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L8C4tcqO9W4

     4) Admer Mehmedi

     http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Admir_Mehmedi

     5) Blerim Dzemaili 

      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blerim_D%C5%BEemaili

      6) Haris Seferovic 

      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haris_Seferovi%C4%87

      7) Valon Behrami

      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valon_Behrami

      8) Philippe Senderos 

      9) Pajtim_Kasami (Stand-by)

      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pajtim_Kasami

   Germany:

      1) Sami Khedira

      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sami_Khedira

      2) Mesut Ozil

      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesut_%C3%96zil 

      http://in.reuters.com/article/2010/11/12/idINIndia-52875620101112

      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XrFmk574bBM

      http://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/football/350161/REVEALED-What-Arsenal-star-Mesut-Ozil-was-doing-before-kick-off-against-Manchester-United

      3) Shkodran Mustafi

      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shkodran_Mustafi

   Belgium:

      1) Marouane Fellaini

      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marouane_Fellaini

      2) Adnan Januzaj 

      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adnan_Januzaj

      3) Nacer Chadli

      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nacer_Chadli

      4) Mousa_Dembele

      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mousa_Demb%C3%A9l%C3%A9

B) Source of info about Masjids being constructed by top European football clubs:

      http://inserbia.info/today/2013/05/bayern-financed-the-construction-of-muslim-mosques-in-allianz-arena/

C) Source of minarets being banned in Switzerland:

     http://keepingscore.blogs.time.com/2010/06/16/switzerland-to-its-footballers-thanks-very-much-now-go-back-to-where-you-came-from/

     http://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/nov/29/swiss-minarets-ban-referendum

D) European teams (13): Croatia, Netherlands, Spain, Greece, England, Italy, Portugal, Russia. Teams having Muslims (5): France, Switzerland, Bosnia, Germany, Belgium. 

    http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/teams/