High profile people using their high profile position to appear en masse preying in front of thousands of people live and probably televised live to tens of millions of people is pretty much my definition of converting and preaching in a glamourising manner.

It's exactly what scientologists do to convert people, they parade Tom Cruise, Nancy Cartwrtight and John Travolta in the public eye to get people to convert. Same thing.

It's never been allowed for anything else in football because it is a neutral sport, so why this?

-edit-

Also, I would have a problem with someone wearing an atheist T-Shirt based on the same principles, so I would have a problem with the darwinian fish.

High profile people using their high profile position to appear en masse preying in front of thousands of people live and probably televised live to tens of millions of people is pretty much my definition of converting and preaching in a glamourising manner.

It's exactly what scientologists do to convert people, they parade Tom Cruise, Nancy Cartwrtight and John Travolta in the public eye to get people to convert. Same thing.

It's never been allowed for anything else in football because it is a neutral sport, so why this?

-edit-

Also, I would have a problem with someone wearing an atheist T-Shirt based on the same principles, so I would have a problem with the darwinian fish.

I don't know why they ban political t-shirts, but it is probably because they don't want to cause controversy. If you had an away match against Iran, it wouldn't be a good idea for FIFA to allow players to wear t-shirts saying 'I belong to Jesus'. 

What is so wrong about trying to convert people? If no one is forcing you to watch or putting a gun to your head, why can't I wear a t-shirt that says: "You should be catholic" (I'm catholic BTW ).

I am an Aston Villa fan. I make the effort to watch every single Aston Villa game because I love the team. Millions are like me. If the Aston villa team suddenly decided to start worshiping Thor everytime they score a goal and wear a T-Shirt saying 'Thor is super' it would be nothing but attempting to convert people by knowing they want to turn up to watch a football match and take the chance. They may not put a gun to my head, but I will be sitting in my seats having to watch it.

As for why converting people bad."You are going to hell if you don't follow the teachings of the flying spaghetti monster"... Everytime I see a preacher on the street I'm going to hell apparently, not going to lie, that's very offensive to me and many other people. And even if I do convert, there will always be another million guys telling another million stories about me going to hell (or equivalent) still.

If you want to wear one that says: "I'm happy 'cause I'm an atheist" there's no problem either.

I would have a problem if your shirt said that religious people are stupid, but other than that its fine.

And another thing, something being secular does not mean that religion isnt allowed. It means that no one religion can be enforced on the people.

So as long as the players do it and not FIFA themselves, all religions should be accepted.

As for being secular, yeah all religions are allowed, but people should also keep it respective. The idea behind football being secular is to allow all religions, but not have religious views become an issue that skew the game like this would do. The same reason it doesn't allow political message.

I go back to what I said before on this thread, each time more, the world wants people to be religious only in their home. Me displaying my faith cant possibly offend you in any way. You displaying your (lack of) faith cant offend me either.

Secularism means: All religions (or no religion) allowed. Not: No religion around.

The blue part - Not necessarily. Religious people sometimes just want to thank whom they believe brought them and guided them to that sucess they are having in that moment. denying that would be the same as someone denying a player from thanking their dad for all the support in his life.

Also, you make t as if suddenly all players will start chanting and praising the Lord at every match. Its only a few players and al they do is wear t=shirts, or pray together. Nothing more.

You are so much for freedom of speech (i see all the threads you post on), but you think it shouldnt be done because it might annoy you.

These players are not turning the game into a religious experience. They are just expressing themsleves. Turns out their faith is how they express themselves. And I think no one should deny them that right.