The practice of Ramadan in Paris offers a big issue for Muslim soccer players in France, which is a country that is profoundly secular, and there seems to be little potential for reform in the near future.
The French soccer federation does not make any exceptions to its regulations in order to accommodate foreign players who choose to fast from dawn to sunset during the Islamic holy month. This is done in order to uphold the principle of religious neutrality that is entrenched in the French constitution.
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The federation made it very clear that it would not make any adjustments to the timetable for meals and practices in order to accommodate athletes who wanted to completely adhere to the religious ritual. This was done before to the training camps that were conducted in March. Outrage was provoked by this decision among several legislators, coaches, and former players who were on the left side of the political spectrum. They accused the federation of engaging in religious discrimination. However, the federation justified its position by noting its dedication to maintaining secularism in public life as the reason for their disagreement.
A secular attitude in France bans league referees from allowing breaks in games to enable Muslim players to break their fast with a brief food and drink on the sidelines during evening matches. This is because the referees are not allowed to allow pauses in games. These kinds of breaks have been authorized in nations that are geographically close to us, such as Germany, England, and the Netherlands.
Despite the fact that it recognizes the right to religious freedom, French secularism upholds the principle of official neutrality toward all faiths. As part of its goal, the French Football Federation (FFF) states that it is responsible for ensuring that the nation continues to adhere to the principle of secularism.
Some people believe that this strategy leads to restrictions that are hostile to Muslims and violate the players’ freedom to practice their religion legally.
Throughout his whole professional career, Demba Ba, a Muslim who was born in France and once played for Senegal at the international level, has been open about his decision to fast throughout the month of Ramadan, even on match days. It was particularly difficult for him to play in the English Premier League, where matches were frequently scheduled for late in the day during the summer. He detailed the difficulties that he encountered.
Islam is the second-largest faith in France, with an estimated 10% of the population belonging to the faith. This is despite the fact that Catholicism continues to be the biggest religion in France.
During the month of Ramadan, nations with a predominantly Muslim population often adapt their training schedules to accommodate players who are fasting. This is in contrast to France, which has very limited leeway in this regard. Over the last several years, Western nations like as England and Australia have followed suit by permitting breaks during matches in order to break the fast. The previous year, Major League Soccer in the United States adopted the practice of providing drink breaks to players who were fasting.
French coach Antoine Kombouare, on the other hand, highlighted that fasting on game day was not an option for his players, despite the fact that he assisted his players in adjusting their schedules over the month of Ramadan. Despite the fact that he appreciated the players’ choice to fast, he made it clear that they were required to adhere to the restrictions that had been established by the squad.
Philippe Diallo, the president of the FFF, disputed allegations of religious discrimination by stating that players who were fasting were permitted to miss meals and were provided with medical counsel. Even while the federation did not prohibit fasting, he noted that it did adhere to a predetermined structure.
The debate that has surrounded the observance of Ramadan in French soccer, which was brought to light by the alleged threats of a strike by France Under-23 players the previous year, became even more intense when Habib Beye, the coach of Red Star, a team headquartered in Paris, became critical of the stance that the federation takes toward religious fasting.
According to Beye, who represented himself as the son of a Muslim and a Catholic, he decried what he saw to be religious prejudice and said that stringent regulations were enforced primarily on Muslim players.
In France, arguments on secularism have been resurrected as a result of the controversies surrounding the fasting of Ramadan. This is an issue that continues to be controversial more than a century after the foundation of the concept of separation of church and state. The French constitution emphasizes the nation’s commitment to secularism with the purpose of guaranteeing that all people, regardless of their religious affiliation, are treated equally.
The French soccer community finds itself at the heart of a discussion that reflects greater social issues at a time when France is struggling to strike a balance between religious liberties and secular norms. The subject of religious accommodation in sports continues to challenge conventional norms and values, despite the fact that the National Football Federation (FFF) continues to maintain its position on preserving neutrality.
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