Indian boy faces discrimination in Australia, told to remove ‘mala’ or leave soccer field; this is what he chose

New Delhi: A 12-year-old boy named Shubh Patel faced discrimination while playing a soccer match in Australia. The Indian-origin boy was reportedly told to leave the soccer field for wearing a ‘mala’ during the match.

According to a report in The Australia Today, Shubh was told by the match referee to keep aside his mala, failing which he will be disqualified and won’t be allowed to participate in Brisbane match.

Shubh was wearing a mala made of basil wood beeds (kanthi mala), which is followed by Hinduism followers.

However, the Indian boy chose to stuck his ground and preferred his religion over the soccer match. He said that the mala provides him comfort and he would rather sit in pavilion and watch the match.

“I would rather keep following my religion than like break it…just for one soccer game,” said Shubh while speaking with the media.

Shubh has been wearing since the age of 5. He and his family are followers of the Swaminarayan sect. Also, this was the first match when he was instructed to take off his mala. Previously also, he played many matches but never faced such discrimination.

As the match referee didn’t allow him, Shubh watched his team play the game, sitting on the sidelines.

Football Australia says sorry to Shubh

It may be noted that the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) rules doesn’t permit any player wear any equipment or accessory during the game. FIFA had also imposed ban on hijab in 2014 during soccer matches, saying that it poses an injury risk to player’s neck or head.

However, when the matter gained media’s attention and was widely reported, the Football Queensland, governing body of football Australia initiated a probe into the matter and also issued an apology to Shubh Patel’s family for the insult.