Navreet Suhana turban controversy: “This happened to me for the first time in my career”
The first Canarian derby between Rafael Alonso San Roque and Cisneros Alter Group will have many sporting incentives, but will inevitably be aimed at Navrit Singh Sukhansigning of the Tenerife team for this season. The reason is very simple: last Saturday It was decided not to play the match against Instercap Asisa Tarragona SPiSP. to avoid any problems associated with wearing a turban. The picture that took place in Valencia last week and which could also be seen in selected matches of the Challenge Cup against Soria, raised many questions.
This happened to me for the first time in my career. I played in Portugal, Czech Republic and never had any problems.
New situation in Spanish volleyball
Very rarely in Spanish competitions have we seen images of players playing their matches with any characteristic element of their religion. This is not a common occurrence in Spain, but it happened in the men’s volleyball Super League (SMV) this season.. This is what happened to Navreet Singh Suhan, a player CD Cisneros Alter that this year he plays his matches for the Tenerife team, which is led by Tomi Lopez, its president: “When he arrived we saw him playing with his turban and we thought it was curious.“, he admits. This is not the first time the volleyball player has played in Europe; in fact, Suhan was surprised when he was not allowed to play: “This happened to me for the first time in my career. I played in Portugal, Czech Republic and never had any problems.“.
Navreet Singh Suhan poses in his Canadian team uniform and turban.
Although doubts arose when, in the opening match in Spain against UPV Leleman Conqueridor, he was allowed to play, and in the next match against Tarragona, SPiSP was unable to do so: “Nothing happened when I played in Valencia, but it happened against Tarragona and was never repeated in Soria in European competition.“- he begins to count. And he does not understand the discrepancy between the criteria:”I was very surprised by what happened and explained it to the judges, but they told me that this is a different federation and they have different rules, but I played in Valencia and it is the same federation.“, says Navrit.
We spoke to the International Federation and then to Portugal and they didn’t know anything.
A bug that has already been fixed
Everything was quite difficult to understand and one might assume that this was for a religious reason, but this is not the case, as Tomi Lopez himself admits: “When he arrived I thought there was no problem and didn’t ask anything, then the Tarragona match came and the referee told him he couldn’t play like that, but in the first league match they didn’t tell him anything. He’s not in the European match either.” That’s when he decided to investigate: “I called three of our international judges, Jose Maria Padron, Rafael Gonzalez Tabarez and Mariola Rodriguez, and they saw people playing in burqas and hijab…” And he notes: “The referee did not stop us from playing, but the coach preferred that he not play just in case. Later we spoke with the national team players, with Portugal too, but they didn’t know anything.“.
Navreet Singh Suhan waits to support Vitor Amorim’s attack on Cisneros Alter against Grupo Herze Soria in the first match of the 2024/25 Challenge Cup.
It was at that moment that they discovered the error: “Let’s learn about the FIVB regulations (International Volleyball Federation)but this needs to be done through a request. The headscarf should not be played with, for example, for clothing reasons not related to religious matters. Federation -RFEVB- He didn’t make that decision, but we didn’t do the procedure well.“In fact, Louis Muhaga, Technical Director of RFEVB, puts it this way: “Volleyball has rules that include uniformity of play, which includes the use of jerseys, shorts and socks, as well as knee pads, hand warmers… a number of things that are regulated, but we don’t have much else.A religion that the player himself admits that he is the only one in all of professional volleyball who practices it, although there are field hockey players who do it.
We haven’t regulated any of this, but logically we will now. We will have to write that any other element must have some pre-requirements.
In fact, Muchaga admits this: “The Federation does not oppose any religious conditions, but it may also advocate something else.“. The situation is new for Spanish volleyball as it has never happened before and is not included in article 4.3 of the competition rules or in article 21, and which announces that they will include: “We haven’t regulated any of this, but logically we will now. We will have to write that any other element must have some pre-requirements.. We’ve never had a single player express interest in playing with these clothes. There are many religions in the world. We understand that it is logical if a person needs to wear clothing that is justified by the uniform. In fact, this weekend he will be able to play with full guarantee: “Now that the player has explained this, the club has approved it and the Federation has now given him permission to play with a turban.“.
A turban is a symbol of equality and diversity and there is nothing wrong with wearing one on your head.
Sikhism, religion of Navrit Singh Suhan.
Navreet Sukhan was born in Canada, but his parents emigrated from the northern part of India before he was born, where the religion he practices: Sikhism originated. A religion that has the sixth largest number of followers in the world and uses the turban as a symbol “equality, diversity and nothing bad happens when you wear this turban on your head“, he says. The belief that borrowed from both Islam and Hinduism and that it was created in the context of the conflict between both doctrines in the 16th and 17th centuries, and its main sacred text was Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji.
Cisneros Alter celebrates winning the first match of the 2024/25 Challenge Cup Round of 32 against Grupo Herce Soria with Navreet Singh Suhan on the right in the image.
Typical beliefs include three fundamental principles that the athlete himself defines: “Be honest, respectful and live a good life; help people in need and be a good person“. Pillars based on meditation and hymn reading (naam japnaa), honest work in the service of family and society (Dharam di Kirat Karni), and generosity accompanied by charity (Vand ke chaknaa). In addition to a condition that may be contrary to Western life: “I haven’t had my hair cut since I was born.”. The custom is that the turban is a symbol of brotherhood and respect, and now that the rules and permissions are in order, it can continue to be worn in every game with Cisneros Alter.