Fans of Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) have chastised the French Football Federation (FFF) for refusing to suspend evening matches during Ramadan to allow Muslim players to break their fast.
The rationale given by the federation was the principle of “football neutrality at practice facilities.”
“A date, a drink of water, the FFF’s nightmare,” a banner from Collectif Ultras Paris, a PSG supporter organization seated behind the goal at the Parc des Princes, slammed the federation’s decision.
In a week 29 encounter in Paris, French Ligue 1 leaders PSG were defeated 1-0 by mid-table Olympique Lyon.
In order to honor French secularism, the FFF reportedly sent an e-mail to the Federal Commission of Referees (CFA) last week prohibiting breaks during football matches for Muslim players to break their fast.
The leaked e-mail also stated that anyone who violated the provisions would face disciplinary and/or criminal charges.
In France, a statute passed in 1905 established the separation of Church and State.
In contrast to the French Ligue 1, the English Premier League announced last week that players may break their fast during the Muslim fasting month.
– A Nantes player has been pulled from the match team due to fasting.
Nantes defender Jaouen Hadjam, 20, was dropped from the match squad by senior team head coach Antoine Kombouare for fasting on match days during Ramadan.
In response to the absence of Algerian-French footballer Hadjam, Kombouare stated that players “should not fast” in order to be match fit and avoid injury during games.
“And those who fast are not in the group,” he stated, dismissing Hadjam from the Reims encounter.
Nantes was defeated 3-0 at home by Reims in a French Ligue 1 match on Sunday at Stadium De La Beaujoire.
Ramadan began on March 23 and will conclude on April 21 with the Eid al-Fitr festival.