Two dozen soccer teams from Ontario have been forced to pull out of a tournament taking place this weekend in Montreal.

The move comes after the Canadian Soccer Association suspended the Quebec Soccer Federation over the provincial body's decision to ban players from wearing turbans during games.The Lac St. Louis Soccer Association says every team coming from Ontario has been informed by their provincial counterpart that they are not allowed to play.

The cross-border controversy goes both ways, with members of a team in Chelsea, Quebec saying that they have been told they are not allowed to play games in Ontario.

"I totally believe the CSA is in the wrong here, you don't ask someone to make a decision and then suspend them because you don't like the decision that they took," said Fern Da Silva, the president of the Pierrefonds Soccer Association.

The CSA has defended its decision in a written statement, saying "discrimination of any kind is strictly prohibited and punishable by suspension or expulsion."

Quebec's minister for public health wonders if it was the best move.

"I think they were very hasty, and very strict approach, but I think a dialogue is opened now," said Veronique Hivon.

The QSF said the move was made due to a potential threat to players posed by the headgear, however could not provide any examples of any player who had been injured by a cloth cap.

The CSA says the ban violates FIFA regulations concerning headgear, and until QSF complies with international regulations no team in Quebec is allowed to participate in cross-border games.

The turban ban has ignited a firestorm of controversy across Quebec and around the world.

The QSF has been asked repeatedly why it is banning turbans when FIFA regulations permit other headgear, including soft helmets worn in professional international competition, and last year FIFA altered its regulations to permit sport hijabs.

Quebec's federation members have repeatedly refused to comment, saying only that they are open to dialog with the national federation and expect to have a statement at the end of next week.

Several teams and leagues in and around Montreal have said they will not abide by the QSF's turban ban, and are welcoming Sikh players.

This week every member of a team from Brossard donned turbans during a game to protest the QSF decision.