French Sports Minister Backs Soccer Federation’s Ramadan Fasting Policy

"I think on this point that we must be very clear on our principles: secularism, protection of the freedom to believe or not to believe, neutrality of public service, no proselytism... And at the same time, we must be both very determined and without a spirit of controversy on how these clear principles are implemented," said Amélie Oudéa-Castéra on France Info on Wednesday, in response to the question of whether she was in favor of this FFF measure.

The Minister of Sports notes that "in football, in France, it has rather gone well so far because, in a rather pragmatic way, Muslim players have been able to break the fast by using break times, using half-times. There are pragmatic solutions that can be taken."

According to her, it is not necessary to provide a "specially arranged" break for players who practice fasting because "the current framework of football practice allows each person to live their religion in a pragmatic way and that is what is important." Amélie Oudéa-Castéra rather calls to "trust the actors to find the best solutions" in order to best manage this fasting period in football.