Here’s why ISIS banned referees from football games
Islamis State (ISIS) has banned the use of referees while playing football in Syria because according to them referees obey FIFA rules and not ISIS rules.
According to UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), ISIS branded the rules of international football “illegitimate” and drew up a list of rules detailing how injured players can be compensated under Sharia Law.
According to ISIS commanders, football referees will not be allowed at local football matches because their rulings “do not judge according to what Allah has revealed”.
ISIS also introduced a rule which allows an injured player to claim compensation or seek revenge. A player told SOHR:
“We’re lucky because the football we play does not run using Fifa’s name – then the organisation [Isis] would have stopped games once and for all and not just refereeing.”
The group also banned smoking, satellite dishes, dancing, watching foreign television and private internet access.
Punishment for flouting the bans include flogging, shooting, beheading and burning.
