Israel Matzav

Football Soccer – The New Religion

Sure. They're going to fit right into western society. Aren't they? Hey, come to think of it - someone better let Ahmadinadinnerjacket know about this.

A British jihadists website has warned Muslims against being drawn in to what they described as "the new religion of soccer."

The Saved Sect website, which calls on Muslims to work to establish an Islamic state in Britain, has attacked "football fever," saying that soccer has "captivated the masses, dedicating their time and effort towards it."

According to the website, "Football is the deen (religion) by which people live their lives by and are willing to die for. The messengers of this deen are its players who the people follow and imitate; the aqeedah (creed) of a believer in this religion is based upon the devotion, support, obedience and worship of their one team; their walaa (alliance) is with those who support the same team, and baraa'ah (disavowal) is made against everyone else. Their pilgrimage is to attend the matches whether at home or abroad. Their jihaad is to fight against those who are arch rivals against their team. Their da'wah (call, invitation) is to publicise, defend and justify their team, inviting others to support them in this."

In another place the web site says, "People will spend hundreds and thousands of pounds for this religion of theirs, travelling to other parts of the world in support of their team, paying hundreds for tickets, buying the football shirt, flag and other emblems representing their side. They will spend hours watching it on the television screens, listening to all the commentary and discussions surrounding it, watching repeats and even highlights. They will sit amongst others debating and discussing about it for hours, speaking as ambassadors for their team, they will discuss strategy, tactics and mistakes; they will review past games and future possibilities predicting the outcome. These discussions stimulate peoples' sentiments making them become very emotional and zealous, often leading to disputes and arguments. They will like and dislike others on the basis of which team they support, often fighting and harming those who oppose them. It hurts them to see their team suffer in loss, shedding tears for the cause, whilst they laud and celebrate when they win, bringing happiness and joy to their hearts. They will jump down the throats of those who so much as even dare to criticise their god rising to defend it at all costs."

Claiming that soccer plants the seeds of nationalism, and is therefore part of a "colonial crusader scheme" to divide Muslims and cause them to stray from the vision of a unified Islamic identity, the website told readers: "The sad fact of the matter is that many Muslims have fallen for this new religion and they too carry the national flag."

Maybe we should encourage Muslims to watch more soccer and then there would be less suicide bombers. Hmm....

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 7:18 PM