During a live Canadian broadcast from Vancouver at half-time of the World Cup match between Sweden and Tunisia, an English commentator from Great Britain discussed what he perceived to be Yasin Ayari’s subdued reaction after scoring for Sweden. Ayari, Sweden’s young football star of Tunisian and Moroccan heritage, did not celebrate exuberantly, as the commentator evidently expected. Interpreting this restraint as a lack of passion or loyalty, the commentator absurdly remarked: “If he wants to go play for Tunisia, let him go and play for Tunisia.”
Hidden within those remarks were both ignorance and arrogance: ignorance of the diverse ways in which people express success, gratitude, identity and belonging; and arrogance in assuming that every expression of joy must conform to the commentator’s own emotional and cultural expectations.
The irony, of course, is that Ayari did celebrate. He simply celebrated in a way the commentator either failed to recognize or chose not to understand. After his first goal, Ayari fell to his knees in what Muslims refer to as sujoud, the prostration performed as an act of gratitude to God.
Within the Islamic tradition, gratitude is first directed toward God. For many Muslim athletes, this act represents one of the most profound expressions of joy, humility and thankfulness. Ayari was clearly celebrating, however, doing so in a manner unfamiliar to the commentator.
