'Keep God out of football' — Fifa tells Brazil’s superstars

Here is a player – Kaka – who obviously realizes that he owes much of his life to God. So when he won the Fifa World Player of the Year award in 2007, he gave God the glory as he accepted his award:

"It's really special for me - it was a dream for me just to play for Sao Paulo and one game for Brazil," he said. "But the Bible says God can give you more than you even ask for and that is what has happened in my life. I had always thought about winning this award, but there are always doubts until it is actually confirmed. It is not just this award but the whole year that has been very nice. Winning the Champions League and everything that has happened, it's just been wonderful."

LONDON, July 13, 2009 — Football’s governing body has sparked controversy after disciplining the Brazilian team for overt displays of Christianity during a match.

Stars including £56 million (RM324.66 million) Real Madrid forward Kaka and captain Lucio revealed T-shirts with devout slogans such as “I Belong to Jesus” and “I Love God” during the Confederations Cup final last month.

Now Fifa has risked accusations of being ‘anti-religious’ by reminding Brazil of its guidelines banning players from making displays of a personal, religious or political nature on the football pitch.

AC Milan star Kaka and his Brazilian teammates have been told to stop making overt displays of their Christianity during matches.

A warning letter was sent to the Brazilian football federation “to remind them of the relevant regulations, so that such incidents do not recur in the future”.

Brazilian players, and Kaka in particular, are well-known for their strong religious beliefs and the squad and backroom staff formed a large circle and sank to their knees in prayer after the victory over the US at the end of last month.

In the subsequent team photographs, many players were wearing the Christian T-shirts, with captain Lucio prominent as he lifted the trophy.

But Brazil’s display of faith had an extra element of controversy because most of the players are Pentecostalists, whose leaders have been accused of violating religious freedom by attacking those of other faiths.

In the light of Brazil’s high-profile display of faith, seen around the world by millions of television viewers, the head of football in Denmark wants all religious statements banned from football.

Jim Stjerne Hansen, secretary general of the Danish football association, said: “Just as we reject political manifestations, we should also say no to religious ones. There are too many risks involved in clubs, for example, with people of different religious faiths.”

Fifa rules specifically ban the use of T-shirts or other undergarments, but there is nothing that outlaws prayer or other displays of religious belief. Law 4, which deals with players’ equipment, reads: “Players must not reveal undergarments showing slogans or advertising. The basic compulsory equipment must not have any political, religious or personal statements.”

Brazil have escaped sanction, just as they did following a similar display of T-shirts after their 2005 Confederations Cup win, but football has made its intention clear to keep religion, as well as politics, out of sport. — Daily Mail