Footballers change 'offensive' team names

Muslim youths in California were forced to change the names of football teams after titles like “Soldiers of Allah” and “Mujahideen” caused uproar among Jews.

Jewish leaders had objected to some of the planned names in the football tournament organised by the youths, and even Muslim community leaders asked the teams to think again.

The row became so heated that one member of a team called Intifada (the Palestinian uprising) said a few of his friends quit because their parents feared for their safety. Nevertheless, Intifada escaped a ban.

Organisers said none of the names was meant to offend and players refused to change Intifada and some others.

“We’re just playing football,” said Sabih Khan, 18, one of the tournament organisers. “It’s just sport. There’s no politics involved.”

About 120 mostly Muslim men in their teens and early 20s played under clear skies at a park in Irvine as friends and family cheered from the sidelines.

Five protesters waved placards at the park entrance, away from the football field. Their signs said: “Murder is not a game,” and “When these guys throw the bomb, they really throw a bomb.”

“To me, these names glorify terrorism,” said Barry Spatz, a Jewish psychologist from Laguna Niguel. He carried a sign showing pictures of victims killed by suicide bombers in Israel.

“If Muslim youth want to get together and do something positive, that’s fine. But this is an insult to me.”

Intifada means “uprising” in Arabic and is used by some Palestinians to describe revolts against Israeli occupation. Mujahideen translates as “holy warrior” and is associated with some Islamic groups the United States characterises as terrorist organisations.

The protests had little effect on the competition. Fourteen squads battled for a first place trophy during the one-day tournament.

Rather than threatening, some of the team names – including Fantizzle Fizzle - were just silly. The team name Muslim Rangers was replaced on a tournament list with Irvine Alumni.

Warming up for his first game, Oomar Patel, 23, dismissed the controversy.

“To each his own,” said Patel, a police officer in Garden Grove. “I’m just here to play football and have some fun.”