French Football Federation Defends Ban on Ramadan Fast Breaks During Matches

"Without fueling a sterile controversy, the players are free to hydrate on the occasion of substitutions or treatment received by their teammates. The considerations on respect for Article 1 of the FFF statutes apply to all licensees, including the professional world," reacted Éric Borghini to L’Équipe.

On Thursday, the FFF sent an email to the official referees to remind them of the ban on interrupting matches to break the Ramadan fast. "These interruptions do not comply with the provisions of the FFF Statutes," it specified. This letter sparked heated controversy.

Actors in the world of football deplore the fact that France does not follow the example of England, where the refereeing bodies ask the match officials in the Premier League to suspend play, in order to allow Muslim players to break their fast during Ramadan. "We know England, we have to admit, they are more open than us on the subject and it has always been like that," pointed out Didier Digard in a press conference, the coach of OGC Nice.

The FFF’s decision remains in effect until April 21, the end of Ramadan.