Any Given Sunday

Disclaimer: I am in no way religious. But I am not going to discriminate against those who are. 

So UEFA have decided that Northern Ireland will play a few Sunday matches in the next qualifying campaign for Euro2016. No big deal?

Well over the past 24 hours a few people have came out and argued against Sunday football (or soccer if you're that way inclined) or any sporting activity on a Sunday. This is a much more serious issue than the Bible play getting banned by councillors. This isn't just one play or one sporting event, this is a whole day. A whole 24 hours that we cannot play or attend sport because a minority say we shouldn't. It sets a dangerous precedent.

UEFA do not have it in for the religious folk of Northern Ireland, that is just paranoia. They have made a decision for the whole of Europe. International football breaks up the domestic season and in recent times the TV figures and money streams have declined. Most European qualifying matches kick off at the same time, so UEFA have come up with an idea to have matches on every night of the international break and not a handful of nights. Spreading the matches out so there is more exposure.

GAA have played games on Sunday since it started. The top leagues in Italy and Spain have the main bulk of their fixtures on Sunday. American Football is played on Sundays. Formula1 races on a Sunday. Vast majority of Golf tournaments finish on Sundays. Even the Ulster Rugby team played a league match in Italy yesterday (Sunday).

Earlier today I read an interview with Reverend David McIlveen of the Free Presbyterian Church on the UTV website. In this interview he claimed, 

'Football is played every day of the week and I don't feel there is an appetite for sporting activities on a Sunday in Northern Ireland.'

He is so wrong when he says there is no appetite for sporting activities on a Sunday. People in this country play Golf on Sunday mornings, most GAA matches are played on Sunday, and many cycling groups go out on Sunday. Thats only three sports and there are many others that occur on Sundays. I do not know who he speaks for but he certainly does not speak for the huge amount of people taking part in Sunday sport.

On the BBC website Stuart Elliott gave an interview. He is now a pastor and having played for Northern Ireland is an interesting person to interview about the Sunday matches. He claims that Northern Ireland is an evangelical country. I like many others would disagree. This is simply not true and even if it was religion should not dictate when a Football match should be played.

We all have to respect each other's views and religion. But respect goes two ways and the people who are not religious should not be discriminated against.

Religion should not dictate opening hours or what events can happen. To the majority of people in Northern Ireland Sunday is just another day. Some people are off work and some have to work. Those that want to celebrate the sabbath should be allowed to do so. That goes without saying. Just as those who choose not to celebrate the sabbath should be allowed to go about their business.

A few massive sporting events are coming up in the next year. The Giro D'Italia is here in May and Day 3 of the event is on a Sunday and starts in Armagh. Should this worldwide event with world class athletes be stopped until the following day? The Irish Open in 2015 will be at Royal County Down in Newcastle and with the final day due to be played as always on a Sunday. Is Rory McIlroy showing disrespect by competing every Sunday? Should these highly lucrative events for the economy be scrapped as they fall on a Sunday? Of course they shouldn't.

Zach Johnson, a devout Christian, won the US Masters in 2007 on Easter Sunday, he commented afterwards that he went out and won it for himself, his family and for God.

We can keep Sunday holy as David McIlveen says, but the people that do not have strong religious views should not be discriminated against. Having a soccer match played in Windsor Park does not stop anyone from going to church. He has said there will be protests, but surely attending a protest at Windsor on the day of the match is just as disrespectful to the sabbath.

In my own opinion I would side with Zach Johnson. Its better to go out and play your sport and display the talent that God gave you rather than hide it away. That is the proper way to praise God, go out and make the best of the talent that he gave you. Surely that's the greatest compliment God can receive.