French Football Federation
The French Football Federation’s decision not to stop matches to allow fasting players to break their fast during matches sparked anger and controversy on social media in many countries.
According to many French and international newspapers, the French Football Federation sent an e-mail to the referees telling them not to stop matches to allow Muslim players to break their fast during Ramadan.
And the letter stated: “The Federation’s attention was drawn to the phenomenon of stopping matches following breaking the fast in Ramadan. These interruptions do not comply with the provisions of the Federal Football Association’s laws.”
The statement added: “The federation and its decentralized bodies defend basic values, and the French Republic must apply the means to prevent any discrimination or violation of the dignity of any person, especially because of his political and religious beliefs.”
A different decision in Britain
The decision of the French Federation came in contradiction to the decision of the Referees Committee of the English Football Association, which issued at the beginning of the month of Ramadan instructed the referees in the excellent and first grades and the rest of the tournaments, to deal in a special way with Muslim players during the month of Ramadan.
And British media confirmed at the time that the Referees Committee asked its referees to facilitate the process of breaking the fast of the fasting Muslim players, during the matches that coincide with the Maghrib call to prayer, so that the players can take fluids or nutritional supplements during the pause period, provided that the match is resumed immediately following that.
“racist decision”
The decision to prevent referees in France from stopping matches for breakfast ignited social media in many Arab countries, as the name of the French Football Federation appeared among the most discussed topics on Twitter.
Most of the comments were angry.
Many expressed their dissatisfaction with the arguments mentioned by the Federation in its statement to prevent the suspension of matches, accusing the French Federation of racism.
Many tweeters compared the method used by the French and the FA’s leniency with the fasting players.
Others saw the French Union as contradictory and double standards. Many used the World Cup matches that were recently held in Qatar, in which many football federations around the world, including France at the time, criticized the State of Qatar because of “human rights and freedom.”
And some tended to sarcasm, and suggested that the players claim the injury, and then stop playing until the completion of the ambulance, which is something that the fasting players can exploit in order to break their fast.
In response to the decision, many published pictures of the legend Lionel Messi, as a kind of provocation because of the role of the Argentine player in his country’s victory in the last World Cup at the expense of France.
Others hoped that the Arab communities residing in France would have “learned their lesson” and “start giving their children priority, not the freedom to choose their country of origin for sports representation.”
“Patience for another hour does not ruin friendship with an issue.”
On the other hand, some criticized “the torrent of negative comments that accompanied the pictures of the French national team players without denouncing the decision of the committee itself.”
Some of the tweeters believed that the players might “break their fast during a break between the two halves,” considering that “whoever has endured fasting throughout the day can be patient for another half hour.”