The French Football Federation bangs its fist on the table over the Ramadan controversy

It's a subject that is causing a lot of discussion in football France and on social networks. This year, the French Football Federation established a ” general framework “ regulating the practice of Ramadan fasting within national teams. This implies in particular that there are no staggered meal times or snacks for Muslim players wishing to fast. Clearly, French players, from U16 to A, are prohibited from doing this fast, and Mahamadou Diawara (OL), called up with the U19, was replaced in the list for this reason.

At the same time, several clubs in France have also adopted similar measures, banning their Muslim players from this Ramadan. Other clubs, such as OL, OM, PSG, Le Havre or Reims, do not prohibit anything and even provide personalized follow-up to players who have decided to fast. What is also talking about and which annoys many fans of the Blues is the fact that abroad, the other big European nations have not taken any negative measures on this subject. In any case, it is a fairly complex subject and a source of tension, to which Philippe Diallo, the president of the FFF, wanted to return.

Diallo and the FFF defend themselves

“I cannot accept that people say that the FFF carries out religious discrimination. My duty is to ensure a form of neutrality in sporting practice. The Federation has set a framework, like at school. There cannot be a modification of our schedules, of our organization, which is linked to the implementation of a religious practice, whatever it may be.first launched the boss of French football, in an interview given to franceinfo. He subsequently added that the Council of State ruled in favor of the FFF even though some had wanted to attack it.

“I respect everyone’s beliefs. It is possible, if we want to fast, so as not to jeopardize the performance or health of athletes, to postpone it., added the leader, therefore inviting the players to postpone their Ramadan to a period without meetings. According to him, no one forbids doing Ramadan; it's just a matter of deferring it: “no one in the Federation, starting with me, has forbidden anyone to fast”. Before concluding with another line of defense: “When players are selected for the French team, I don’t ask them their religion. The trial against the Federation is a bad trial, unjust, and based on false foundations.. What to calm the controversy? Not sure…