Islamic school apologizes after soccer team refuses to play vs team with girls
Posted June 2, 2015 9:14 pm.
Last Updated June 2, 2015 11:09 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
ISNA Private Islamic High School has issued an apology after a boys soccer team from the school refused to finish a game last week in Brampton because two females were on the opposing team.
Robert F. Hall Catholic School, in Caledon, does not have a girls team so Carla Briscoe and Alissa Condotta played on the senior boys’ team as it was allowed by the Region of Peel Secondary School Athletic Association (ROPSSAA).
During halftime, the ISNA team brought their concern to the referee. Robert F. Hall Catholic School school was winning the game 3–1 at that point.
The girls on Robert F. Hall Catholic School team told CityNews they insisted on sitting out for the second half to allow the game to continue and the Catholic school went on to win 6-1.
In a release issued on Tuesday, the Islamic school says they’re sorry the girls had to sit out part of last week’s game.
“In hindsight, ISNA high school regrets that the female players felt they could not participate.
“It was never the team’s intention to exclude female participation, which was reflected in the offer to forfeit.”
That apology seems to be accepted by the female athletes.
“I don’t blame them for it, because it’s what they believe in,” Briscoe told CityNews. “But I just felt that what they did wasn’t fair, really.”
“We just want… female athletes to play on male teams not to be in this situation,” Condotta said. “It was a hard situation to be in.”
The Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations, South Western Ontario Secondary Schools Athletic Association and ROPSSAA all have the same gender rule stating: “If a sport activity is not available for a female on a girls’ team, she is eligible to participate on a boys’ team following a successful tryout.”
You can read the full letter of apology below:
