Amy Mek
Match officials from the Premier League and English Football League (EFL) have been told they must provide an opportunity for players to break their fast during evening games across Ramadan. Fearing another violent backlash from the Islamic community, it is not surprising western professional sports leagues are complying with Muslims’ demands.
As the sun sets during Ramadan, Muslims break their day-long fast with a meal called Iftar.
Several players, including Chelsea’s N’Golo, Kante Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah, and Manchester City’s Ilkay Gundoga, choose to fast for a month during daylight hours in accordance with one of the five pillars of Islam.
We’re excited to announce that we are hosting an Open Iftar in partnership with the @RamadanTent Project! ☪️
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) March 13, 2023
We’ll be the first PL club to ever host an Iftar at their stadium and we look forward to welcoming our local Muslim community.#GamesForEquality
Ramadan began on Wednesday and concludes on April 21. ESPN reports that after consultation with the relevant league administrators, the referee’s body Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL), informed officials to explore whether players or staff will be affected when clubs exchange teamsheets before kick-off during this period.
A natural stoppage in play will then be created to allow fasting club staff, players, and match officials to come to the side of the pitch and take on liquids or energy supplements.
The match between Leicester City and Crystal Palace in April 2021 was believed to be the first in the division to be stopped to allow Muslim players to eat and drink mid-game.
Islamization of Sports – Violent Intimidation
The League’s decision reflects a broader trend of sports organizations submitting to Islam. In recent years, similar accommodations have been made in various sporting events worldwide, such as the Olympic Games and international cricket matches.
In July 2021, Muslim players at the UEFA 2020 Football Championship were given the exclusive option of removing empty bottles of non-alcoholic Heineken 0.0 bottles from their press conference desks. Meanwhile, non-Muslim players, regardless of their beliefs about alcohol or other sponsors’ products, were expected to comply mandatorily.
Heineken, an official tournament sponsor, and the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) agreed that Muslim soccer players should be granted special rights.
If professional sporting leagues and competitions did not change their policies and grant Islamic players special privileges, violence would likely ensue. As reported previously by RAIR Foundation USA, Muslims have put businesses, teachers, children, leaders, cartoonists, and the rest of the free world on notice: if you insult Muhammad, Islam, their holy books, or even fail to consider Islamic law (Sharia) in all things, they will harm you.
Television host Bill Maher seems correct when he famously compared Islam to the Mafia during a debate on HBO, “Islam is the only religion that acts like the Mafia, that will f*cking kill you if you say the wrong thing, draw the wrong picture, or write the wrong book:
HEINEKEN is a shit tasting beer anyway!