In this article you will..
- Understand what to do if a player touches an oppositions patka or tuba.
Match officials need to be aware that to a Sikh, touching their head covering (patka or turban) without their permission is an offensive act (as it is a religious article of faith) and should this occur and seen by the match official it should be considered a red card offence. Patkas are often tied at the back and, if this is pulled or touched in an improper manner, regardless of any potential reaction, it is an offence classified as S6 using offensive, insulting or abusive language and/or action(s), and the offender must be dismissed.
Please be sensitive to the specific nature of this type of incident and deal with it appropriately. In addition to any disciplinary action taken, an Extraordinary Incident Report should be submitted.
Should a referee require clarification as to whether a headscarf worn by a player is a religious article of faith, we would advise the match official to speak to the individual prior to the match.
Peter Elsworth, FA Head of Referee Operations, said: "We are determined to stamp out all forms of offensive and discriminatory behaviour from our game, and we have confirmed to our network of match officials that they should send off any player that deliberately touches a religious head covering of another player in an inappropriate way. Football is played and enjoyed by many communities across the country, and we want to do everything we can to ensure they are protected and supported at all times."
We continue to prioritise bringing faith communities and football closer together by celebrating important dates in the faith calendar.