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11mo ago

French Football Match Pause for Ramadan Fast Triggers Political Clash Over Secularism

The French Football Federation denies the pause was for religious reasons, as right-wing politicians criticize it as violating the country's secular principles.

Football: la FFF dément que le match Angers-Monaco a été interrompu en raison du ramadan
Image
a Fédération française de football (FFF) interdit strictement toute pause de jeu pour des raisons religieuses, y compris pour la rupture du jeûne de ramadan.
Le 15 mars 2025, au stade Raymond-Kopa d'Angers, l'ailier algérien d'Angers Zinedine Ferhat au duel face au milieu marocain de Monaco Eliesse Ben Seghir.

Overview

  • During a Ligue 1 match between Angers and Monaco on March 15, players took advantage of a pause caused by an injury to break their Ramadan fast.
  • The French Football Federation (FFF) stated that the pause was not officially sanctioned for religious reasons and reaffirmed its policy prohibiting religious breaks during matches.
  • Right-wing politicians, including Laurent Wauquiez, condemned the incident, calling it a breach of France's principle of laïcité (secularism) in public spaces.
  • Himad Abdelli, the injured player, denied accusations of faking his injury to facilitate the fast-breaking and provided medical evidence supporting his claim.
  • The incident has reignited debates about religious accommodations in sports, with comparisons drawn to more flexible practices in leagues like the Premier League and Bundesliga.