In the wake of Egypt’s commendable exit from the World Cup after a strong match against Argentina, discussions resurfaced regarding the absence of Christians in the Egyptian national team. This issue reignited debates about the reasons behind this situation, especially given the media’s fascination with the religions of players on global teams. There is often overwhelming excitement when foreign players express their faith through gestures like kneeling, similar to how Arab North African teams show their beliefs during the ongoing World Cup in the United States and Canada.
This religious fervor is prevalent among many Arab nations that adhere to Wahhabi thought, which does not accept diversity and closely monitors the religions of foreign players. There is considerable pressure for foreign athletes to conform to the dominant beliefs, while African Arab football teams notably lack Christian players. In contrast, Asian Arab countries, such as Iraq, have included several Christian players in their teams. Meanwhile, most European teams respect their citizens and ensure equality in rights and responsibilities, including a fair representation of Muslims from non-European communities, despite their relatively small numbers.
Undoubtedly, young Christian athletes with talent face religious discrimination from coaches and team managers during trials for joining Egyptian sports teams. This discrimination has led to the rejection of talented individuals based solely on their faith. A notable example occurred at Al Ahly Club, where a young boy, Mina Essam, was excluded from consideration without justification. The goalkeeper and coach at the club reportedly refused to allow him to participate due to his Christian faith. Many former international players, including Ahmed Hossam Mido, have spoken about this issue, highlighting that our society suffers from racism. He pointed out that only five Christian players have ever played in the Premier League, lamenting that many young Christian players often retire from football early due to the discrimination they face from some youth coaches.
The absence of talented Christian players from Egyptian clubs since the 1980s stems from the religious affiliations of these clubs and institutions. The infiltration of the Muslim Brotherhood into state institutions during Mubarak’s regime, particularly in the Football Association and sports media, has contributed to this issue. The Egyptian national team’s branding as “the team of those who prostrate” instead of “the Pharaohs” exemplifies this shift. During World Cup matches, the prayer rituals before games, which do not align with Christian practices, highlight this exclusion. This was confirmed by Mr. Smith, the national team coach in 1986, who admitted to having requested player Mohsen Abd El-Masih but was told by the Football Association that he was unsuitable because he could not read the Quran.
The lack of Christian representation in football clubs at various levels can be attributed to the avoidance of trials due to the expectation that their requests will be denied. This situation mirrors the underrepresentation of Christians in the Egyptian Parliament, where their numbers are significantly lower than their actual population percentage of around 15 to 20%. This underrepresentation has roots in the Wahhabi ideology that permeated Egyptian society beginning in the 1970s, coinciding with President Sadat’s implementation of Islamic laws and support for the Muslim Brotherhood. Sadat’s declaration of being a Muslim leader of a Muslim nation in the early 1980s, followed by the events of Black September in 1981, during which he imprisoned several Christian leaders, further exacerbated tensions and led to a loss of trust among Egyptians, particularly the Coptic community.
The absence of Christians from Egyptian sports clubs, particularly at levels below the first division, and consequently from the national team, parallels the historical lack of representation in Parliament before the June uprising that toppled the Muslim Brotherhood. This situation led to the enactment of Law No. 46 of 2014, which stipulated that 25% of parliamentary seats be allocated to women, ensuring appropriate representation for farmers, workers, youth, and Copts. This raises a pertinent question: “Is there a quota for Christians in sports teams across all age groups and in the national team, similar to the provisions in the parliamentary law?”
The answer should be affirmative, as ensuring Christian participation would require all Egyptian clubs and the national team to include at least three players from the Christian community across all age groups. At least one or two must participate in every official match to guarantee representation of Egyptian Christians and promote acceptance of diversity. This approach would align with European sports teams that predominantly feature Christian players in international competitions, leading to a greater awareness among sports officials in discovering Christian talents at all levels, from youth to adulthood.
