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MONTREAL -- Pauline Marois came out kicking in defence of the Quebec Soccer Federations refusal to let turban-wearing kids play the sport, a position that has lobbed the controversial debate into the provinces political arena. The Canadian Soccer Association suspended the provincial association on Monday after the Quebec body showed no sign of overturning its decision to uphold a ban on Sikh religious headwear on the pitch. It says the suspension will remain in place until the Quebec organization lifts its restriction on turbans, patkas and keskis in organized soccer. The Quebec premier took issue Tuesday with the CSA move and called it "unacceptable" for the national organization to punish her provinces soccer federation. The suspension prompted Marois, and several other Quebec politicians, to make their first public remarks on a contentious dispute that has made international headlines. Virtually all lawmakers in the Quebec legislature had avoided the politically thorny topic, but the federal-provincial jurisdictional crossover had several of them talking Tuesday at the national assembly. "I believe the Quebec federation has the right to make its own rules, its autonomous, its not bound by the Canadian federation," Marois, leader of the sovereigntist Parti Quebecois, said in Quebec City. "In this regard, I support it in its orientations." The CSA, however, reports directly to the FIFA world soccer governing body and is responsible for granting or revoking the membership of provincial federations. Prominent PQ cabinet minister Bernard Drainville stuck to his partys stance despite the soccer hierarchy. "It is not up to the Canadian association to decide what is going on Quebec soccer fields -- this power belongs to the Quebec Soccer Federation," Drainville told reporters. "So, the Canadian association should respect the autonomy of the Quebec Soccer Federation to make its own rules on Quebec soccer fields. This is the principle we are defending and we do not understand why the Canadian association is interfering with this right that the Quebec Soccer Federation has." The Quebec body, which did not immediately return calls about the suspension, met late Tuesday to discuss the matter. A source told The Canadian Press a decision was made after the meeting and that it would be made public in 10 days. In the meanwhile, the Quebec Soccer Federation will continue to look at the controversy. It cites safety concerns for banning turbans and points to FIFA rules, which dont specifically allow turbans. But critics counter that FIFAs regulations dont explicitly ban turbans, either. In Ottawa, Quebec Conservative MP Maxime Bernier was asked by a reporter about Marois support for the Quebec federation. He said the Harper government backs the CSA and believes soccer players should be free to wear any religious symbol on the pitch, as long as it doesnt cause a safety issue. "So, I hope that we are more open in Quebec in this way," said Bernier, who noted that all other provincial federations believe Sikh headwear is safe for soccer. The national soccer organization said last week it expected the Quebec association to reverse the ban, which has drawn condemnation from several federal politicians. Quebec is the only province that has balked at the directive to allow turbans on the pitch. Its unclear how the sanction might affect Quebecs soccer players. A spokeswoman for the Canadian Soccer Association said Tuesday she did not have specific details on the suspension. The impact, however, could be felt in a variety of ways unless the situation is resolved soon, according to Canadian Soccer News. Its website said the suspension could prevent Quebec all-star teams from playing outside the province, and even result in games within Quebec being cancelled if they involve a nationally certified referee. If the suspension lasts long enough, Quebec teams could also be blocked from participating in national championships, the publication said. Quebec is set to host the upcoming Canada Games in the city of Sherbrooke and there are fears the suspension could keep some of the provinces athletes from competing in the August event. "I know that there are young people who are among the best and dream of going (to the Canada Games)," Quebec Sports Minister Marie Malavoy said Tuesday. "And I really hope that the Canadian (Soccer) Association leaves us alone and lets us make our own decisions because its the youth who risk suffering in the very short term." The technical director of a top Quebec amateur club said the suspension could cancel a match scheduled for later this month between his senior mens team, Royal-Select Beauport, and the touring Haitian national squad. Haiti is No. 63 in FIFAs world rankings -- 20 spots higher than Canada. Samir Ghrib said if the dispute isnt resolved before the fall, it could also prevent his team from earning a chance to defend its 2012 national title. Ghrib, who agrees with the Quebec associations position on turbans, hopes a solution is found soon. "Religion doesnt have a place on sports fields," he said. "The soccer field must remain neutral." The Sikh community, meanwhile, says the Quebec soccer body has put the families of 100 to 200 children in a difficult spot: abandon a religious requirement, or quit playing organized soccer. The World Sikh Organization says those children were forced out of soccer a year ago. Quebec referees began cracking down in the last year on turbans, patkas and keskis -- the religious headgear worn by Sikh men and boys. Physicians, including former soccer coach Dr. Sanjeet Singh Saluja, have denounced the ban and insist it has no medical justification. On Tuesday, even the president of Major League Soccers Montreal Impact weighed in on the turban-ban debate. Joey Saputo said in a statement that kids should not be prevented from playing soccer at the youth level just because they wear a turban, but added that he thought the CSAs decision to suspend Quebecs federation over the issue was "clearly exaggerated." He said the Quebec organizations ban on turbans was based on a FIFA rule that is open to interpretation. Saputo added that accusations of racism against the provincial federation were uncalled for considering the context of the Quebec bodys decision. "The Canadian Soccer Association made a recommendation and did not officially state its position to provincial federations," said Saputo, who also urged those involved to resolve the situation. "All parties involved must find some common ground for the good of the sport." Shortly after the suspension was announced Monday, some of those who opposed the ban said they welcomed the national bodys tough-love approach. Immigration Minister Jason Kenney tweeted his approval: "Good to see CDN Soccer Association take action against the Quebec Soccer Federation over its ridiculous turban ban." Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau echoed the sentiment, tweeting that "Barring kids from playing soccer because they wear a turban is wrong. The CSA is right to suspend the .QSF." - with a file from Marc TougasTyler Duffey Twins Jersey . Perez, 35, posted a 1-2 record with a 3.69 earned-run average in 19 relief appearances last season. His season ended Aug. 9 due to a torn ligament in his left elbow. 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Miller reached right to deflect Mikhail Grabovskis attempt with just over 2 minutes remaining in regulation, and then made two more saves in the shootout Sunday to give the Sabres a 2-1 win over the Washington Capitals.NEW YORK -- WNBA President Lisa Borders applauds the leagues players for taking a stance on social issues. She just wishes the activism was kept off the court.The New York, Phoenix and Indiana teams and players were fined this week for wearing black warmup shirts that addressed the recent shooting by and against police. WNBA rules state that uniforms may not be altered in any way.Borders spent the past two weeks talking with the union and its executive council, trying to come up with ways that both the league and its players could constructively address the Black Lives Matters movement. Nothing concrete was decided.We were making every effort to engage our players, she told The Associated Press by phone Friday night. We made an effort to support them and we were trying to get them to come to the table to have a conversation. The players have an open invitation with the league.Our players are important to us. We believe in them. We want them to be the people they are and were proud of them. We want to make sure they play well on the court and they are happy off the court.Right now, the players arent happy.On social media and in postgame interviews, players are showing their solidarity after the league fined the Liberty, Mercury and Fever players $500 each this week for wearing plain black warmup shirts that violated the leagues uniform policy. The normal fine for a uniform violation is $200. Each team also was fined $5,000.The Rev. Al Sharpton said Saturday his organization, the National Action Network, will pay the $500 fines. He called the penalty unacceptable.Washington Mystics players had shirts saying Black Lives Matters in the locker room after their game Friday night. Seattle Storm and Minnesota Lynx players tweeted out pictures of their teams wearing black shirts featuring a Martin Luther King Jr. quote before their game. They didnt wear those shirts on the court to avoid getting fined.Were sick and tired of waking up every morning and seeing something like this (shootings) happen, Mystics player Ivory Latta said after her team played its final game before the Olympic break. We need change and we have a platform to speak. Dont tell us we have a platform and then you penalize us for our platform for speaking and showing our actions. Thats not right.Borders, on the job for four months, disagreed with the notion that the league was suppressing its players voices.We want the players to know that we have supported them in the past, support them today and will continue to support them in the future, she said. Were not trying to stop them from expressing themselves.The league just doesnt want them to do it on the court if it violates the WNBA uniform rules. The shirts that the players were fined for wearing were the Adidas brand -- the official outfitter of the league.The Adidas black shirts are not regulation, Borders said. They are sponssor appropriate, but the Adidas plain black shirt would not be a regulation-issued shirt.ddddddddddddThe union felt it was unnecessary for the league to issue a memo this week reminding the players of the uniform policy. Because of that memo, the players and union werent surprised by the fine. They were just disappointed.This isnt about a shirt, but that was the starting point, Terri Jackson, the new operations director of the WNBA Players Association, told the AP. The players want to blog about (Black Lives Matter), tweet about it, do videos. They want to raise visibility and keep the conversation going. They dont want this to die out.Jackson said the unions legal team is looking into what it can do about the fines, which she called excessive. She said the union proposed letting the players have a limited time to express their opinions on the court.We talked about doing it pregame at the 10-minute mark or the 15-minute mark and theyd go back and put on their regulation warmup. Wear the regulation warmups for the national anthem and life goes on. That was declined by the league.While the league begins its monthlong break Saturday, its top players will be playing in Rio at the Olympics. U.S. coach Geno Auriemma said he was proud of their social activism.I respect Tina (Charles) and the players in the WNBA for their concern and their voices and the passion that they have and for their beliefs. I really do, he said, citing the former UConn player and Liberty star for wearing her warmup shirt inside-out before Thursdays game. Im really proud of some of my former players and the way theyve stepped forward and spoken their conscience and express their feelings.The league was still undecided on whether Charles would be fined.Auriemma said if players take actions at the Olympics it would be a difficult balancing act.As far as USA Basketball is concerned, you know, thats a very delicate subject, he said. Obviously each player has an opportunity to be who they want and say what they feel, but at the same time, you are representing the United States of America, and you are part of the Olympic team. ... Im sure itll come up, and well have to deal with it.He said the matter would largely fall to U.S. Olympic and basketball authorities.Both the league and the union hope for constructive conversations during the break. Borders said shell be in Rio for two weeks and will participate in the monthly conference call between the two groups on Aug. 1. She missed the call on July 11 when the shirts initially were discussed.I love this league and its players. Id never do anything to harm the league, franchises or players, Borders said. I want them to understand were here to support them. Weve hit a bump in a road. This too shall pass. ' ' '