The Canadian Soccer Association is prohibiting Quebec teams from participating in or hosting interprovincial matches and national competitions.

The decision came down as the CSA outlined the consequences of its suspension of the Quebec Soccer Federation over its controversial ban on turban on the soccer field.

The national soccer body also said the suspension prevents Quebec clubs from competing in or hosting international matches and forbids them from having national or international referees officiate their games.

Quebec's federation would also be blocked from participating in or benefiting from international soccer clinics, CSA meetings and its disciplinary hearings.

"It is with regret that the Canadian Soccer Association recognizes that the Quebec Soccer Federation suspension will, in the short term, affect a number of players and clubs," the organization said in the release.

"The association remains committed to resolving this issue for the long-term growth and development of the sport of soccer in Canada."

So far the QSF has refused to bow to pressure and said it would maintain its controversial ban on the Sikh religious headwear.

The organization issued a statement Wednesday saying its ban on traditional Sikh patkas, keskis and turbans remains in effect.

The Canadian Soccer Association suspended the provincial body on Monday after it showed no sign of overturning its ban. It said the Quebec federal would be banned from the national organization until it lifted its turban restrictions.

In its statement, the Quebec federation said it will do everything it can to re-establish dialogue with the Canadian Soccer Federation.

A number of federal politicians have spoken out against the ban. One soccer team in Quebec has even gone so far as to have its whole team wear turbans to games, to pretest the ban.

Ihab Leheta, the coach of the under-14 team, says while there are no Sikh players on their team, the players wanted to show their outrage.

“On Friday, the day before our game on Saturday, the boys were discussing injustice and racism and I asked them, ‘If we had a Sikh boy on our team, what would we do?’ And they said, ‘Well if he couldn’t play, we wouldn’t play’,” Leheta told CTV’s Canada AM Wednesday.

 

With a report from The Canadian Press