France’s football federation has told referees they must not halt matches to allow Muslim players to break their fast during Ramadan, according to Yeni safek, English Twitter page.
Unlike England’s Premier League which permits it, the exercise does not comply with the French Football Federation’s statutes, several media reported the body saying in an email sent to referees Thursday.
It said it had been brought to the federation’s attention that matches were being interrupted following the breaking of the Ramadan fast.
“The idea is that there is a time for everything. A time to do sport, a time to practise one’s religion,” Eric Borghini, head of the federal referee commission at the Federation, told AFP.
The regulation does not authorize this, he said, highlighting they included the strict respect of the principle of secularism in football.
English football has taken the reverse conclusion and will permit matches of the Premier League to halt during the holy month of Ramadan, during which Muslims refrain from food and water from sunrise to sunset. It is being empirical this year from March 22.
