read the whole article here http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/8451615.stm Muslim and Sikh groups are challenging a ruling which bans amateur boxers from the ring if they have a beard. The Amateur Boxing Association of England (ABAE) recently ruled that all fighters had to be clean shaven to allow cuts to the face to be seen. It came after Mohammed Patel, a 25-year-old bearded Muslim boxer from Bolton, was stopped from competing last January. At the time, ABAE rules stated only Sikh fighters were exempt, so the Bolton Council of Mosques challenged the ABAE on Mr Patel's behalf. But the ABAE then ruled all competitors had to be clean shaven, a decision both Muslim and Sikh groups want reversed, particularly as professional fighters have been allowed facial hair for more than 20 years. Inayat Omarji, Children and Young People's manager at Bolton Council of Mosques, told BBC Asian Network he is fighting on behalf of Mr Patel, who has been left disheartened by the row. "Mohammed was actually very upset," said Mr Omarji. "He said 'I was that upset, I trained for it, I did all my diets and everything and when I heard I went straight into the takeaway and got myself a big doner kebab'. "That is a big thing because when a young lad actually starts boxing, he has to have... mental and physical fitness... he was really, really down. "It has raised the awareness of different people who have different religious commitments, cultural commitments. :rofl Get real "And in this day and age, they have to accept and work with the different communities." Possibly but it's blatantly a rule which is forced upon the boxers not to punish them but for there own benefit. Another case of people using religion to change things in this country
If I wvwe get in there with somebody with big beard I'm demanding they shave it off I don't give a **** about their religion. It's all bull**** anyway, I'm a man of science.
If an opponent of a bearded fighter gets a cornea abrasion they will run the risk of losing their sight... That rule is there for a reason...:yep I remember a fighter not been able to fight because he had a coldsore on his lip...:nut. The Dr would not let him fight in case the coldsore split and the opponent jabbed the cut and the simplex b went into the eye... That can cause blindness too...So as pissed off as the fighter was, the Dr was watching out for his long term health... Ain't that what it is all about...:yep No beards in the amateurs for my vote...:good
I don't mind short facial hair but it says in the hadith that Muslims should have a beard one fist length like the prophet. That is ridiculous. So much so, it could be considered chin protection.
This one is almost as bad as an english council banning the phrase "two fat ladies 88" at their local bingo hall incase it offended fat women, although no one even complained about it in the first place! whatever next...