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MONTREAL – When Mukhbir Singh’s soccer team won the league championship this past winter, he was on the sidelines – barred from the pitch last November because he wears a turban.

Singh, a 25-year-old Montrealer, has been coaching instead of playing for his recreational league team ever since.

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“My teammates are very supportive and wanted me to be a part of the team anyway,” he said.

Singh will have to wait at least a little while longer to get back on the field.

The Quebec Soccer Federation announced Sunday its board of directors has decided to keep a ban on turbans.

Quebec referees began cracking down on turbans, patkas and keskis – the religious headgear worn by Sikh men and boys – in the last year.

The latest move comes despite a directive from the Canadian Soccer Association in April calling for provincial associations to allow them.

In a statement Sunday, the Quebec federation cited safety concerns and said its decision to keep the ban is in line with the international soccer organization FIFA.