Saturday’s Premier League match between Leeds and Manchester City was briefly interrupted in the 13th minute to allow Muslim players to break their fast during Ramadan.
Manchester City manager Josep Guardiola urged fans to respect Ramadan (Image: Haters TV)
Manager Josep Guardiola has criticized fans who booed the suspension of Manchester City’s game against Leeds to allow Muslim players to break their Ramadan fast. The match was stopped in the 13th minute of City’s 1-0 win at Elland Road, just as the sun was setting.
Some supporters jeered as the players made their way to the touchline. A message on a large screen read: “Tonight’s match will be played during the holy period of Ramadan, so the game will be temporarily suspended to allow the players to break their fast.”
The timing of the break was agreed between both captains ahead of Saturday’s Premier League match. In response to the boos, Guardiola called on fans to “respect religion and diversity.”
“This is the modern world, isn’t it?” Guardiola said after the game. “You see what’s going on in the world today. Respecting religion, respecting diversity, that’s important.
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read more: Leeds manager Daniel Farke angered by referee’s furious sending off during match against Man Cityread more: List of all Premier League matches suspended during Ramadan as players break their fast
“The Premier League says they can give players (who are fasting) a minute or two to (break their fast), but unfortunately that is the reality.
“(Rayan) Cherki, (Rayan) Ait Nouri didn’t eat today, so we took some vitamins. No more. The question is whether they can do it. What’s the problem?”
Anti-racism charity Kick It Out issued a statement in response to the cancellation, stressing that the protocol has been in place since 2021 and saying: “We are extremely disappointed that some Leeds United fans heckled Manchester City players when they broke their fast during the first half of the match at Elland Road.”
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The pre-agreed cancellation was met with boos (Image: Oli SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images)
“The situation worsened when an explanation was displayed on large screens inside the stadium. Suspending matches to allow Muslim players to break their fast during Ramadan has been agreed protocol for several years.”
“This is an important and visible part of making the game more welcoming to Muslim players and communities. However, as tonight’s reaction shows, football still has a long way to go in terms of education and acceptance.”
Muslims participating in Ramadan refrain from eating and drinking during the day. The Premier League introduced match suspensions for the first time in 2021 to allow players to receive nutrition. Ramadan began last week and ends on Thursday night, March 19th.
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