Pep Guardiola, the manager of Manchester City, emphasized the need for greater “respect” following the booing by some Leeds United fans during a first-half stoppage that allowed players observing Ramadan to break their fast at Elland Road on Saturday.
During Ramadan, Muslims fast from dawn to sunset, and several City players are participating in this sacred observance.
The boos were audible in the 13th minute of the Premier League match, coinciding with sunset in West Yorkshire, when the referee paused the game to allow three Muslim City players to rehydrate.
Omar Marmoush, Rayan Aït-Nouri, and Rayan Cherki took the opportunity to hydrate, along with Abdukodir Khusanov, another Muslim player who was on the bench.
After the match, Guardiola addressed the incident, stressing the importance of respecting diverse beliefs.
“This is the modern world, right? Look at what is happening around the globe today,” Guardiola remarked.
“We must respect religion and acknowledge diversity. That’s the key point. The Premier League allows for one or two minutes for players to break their fast, so that’s what happened. It is what it is, unfortunately.”
The anti-discrimination organization Kick It Out later issued a statement, highlighting that the game stoppage had been an “agreed protocol for several years.”
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“It is very disappointing that some Leeds United fans booed while Manchester City’s players were breaking their fast during the first half of the match at Elland Road,” said the group.
“This was particularly disheartening considering an explanation was shown on a large screen inside the stadium.”
“The protocol to pause the game for Muslim players to break their fast during Ramadan has been established for years. It’s a vital step in making the game welcoming for Muslim players and their communities.
“However, tonight’s response illustrates that football still has significant strides to make in education and acceptance.”
Leeds’ assistant manager, Edmund Riemer, who stepped in for Daniel Farke (who was sent off for arguing with officials after the game), expressed his disappointment with the fans’ reaction, stating, “I’m focused on the game and didn’t really hear it, but I am disappointed some supporters reacted that way.”
Manchester City ultimately secured a 1-0 victory with Antoine Semenyo scoring the single goal of the match.