The actions of the two referees, Jollenbeck and Dankert, has thus opened a new Bundesliga chapter, broadcasting the message of tolerance through Germany and the world.
By
MUHAMMAD IKHSAN MAHAR
·5 minutes read
DPA VIA AP/FEDERICO GAMBARINI
Moenchengladbach's Stefan Lainer, left, and Moussa Niakhate of Mainz fight for the ball during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Borussia Moenchengladbach and Mainz, at the Borussia Park stadium in Moenchengladbach, Germany, Sunday, April 3, 2022.
It was a breath of fresh air when the Bundesliga allowed players to break their fast mid-game. This move, which the Premier League has also adopted, demonstrates tolerance and diversity.
A new chapter opened in German football when referee Matthias Jollenbeck paused the Bundesliga match between FSV Mainz 05 and Ausburg at Augsburg Arena last week. The referee made the decision during the highest level of German football to allow Mainz defender Moussa Niakhate to break his fast.
The pause came at the 65th minute, when Mainz was trailing 1-2 against the host. Mainz goalkeeper Robin Zentner had the ball and was preparing for a goal kick. Zentner and Niakhate then signaled Jollenbeck, and the 35-year-old referee blew the whistle to pause the match. The pause lasted around 2 minutes to give Niakhate time to break his fast with a drink.
The match against Ausburg was the first match the French defender has played since he began his fast for the holy month of Ramadhan this year. After breaking his fast, Niakhate walked over to Jollenbeck and shook his hand.
Jollenbeck's initiative has inspired the referees of other Bundesliga matches.
The incident was welcomed by a number of leading German media. The daily Bild, for example, called it a “historic moment in the Bundesliga”.
Three days later on 9 April, Niakhate was again fasting during the 29th match against FC Koeln. The Mainz captain maintained his professionalism as he fasted throughout the match, which ended before it was time to break the fast at 8 p.m. local time.
Jollenbeck's initiative has inspired the referees of other Bundesliga matches. While refereeing RB Leipzig's match against Hoffenheim on 11 April, Bastian Dankert paused the match at the 30th minute to give Leizpig defender Mohamed Simakan a chance to break his fast.
AFP/RONNY HARTMANN
Leipzig's French defender Mohamed Simakan runs with the ball during the German first division Bundesliga football match RB Leipzig v TSG 1899 Hoffenheim in Leipzig, eastern Germany, on April 10, 2022. (
The empathetic gesture drew the appreciation of tens of thousands of Leipzig supporters at Red Bull Arena. Simakan played 63 minutes of the match and helped lead Leipzig to a 3-0 victory over Hoffenheim.
"Thank you to the referee and the rest of the players who gave me a few minutes to break the fast," Simakan, who Leipzig bought from Strasbourg in summer 2021, tweeted after the game. The tweet had garnered 685 likes at the time of publication.
Communications director Lutz Michael Frohlich of the German Referee Committee said the committee did not yet have a regulation on pausing matches for players to break their fast. However, he expressed appreciation for Jollenbeck's initiative.
"We support the referees allowing players to drink at the time for breaking the fast during Ramadhan. This can be done if there is a request from players," Frohlich said on Monday (11/4).
The English Premier League did the same thing during the 2020-2021 season. The referee paused the match between Leicester and Crystal Palace on 27 April 2021 at the 34th minute to allow Leicester's Wesley Fofana and two Palace players, Cheikhou Kouyate and Jordan Ayew, to break their fast.
We support the referees allowing players to drink at the time for breaking the fast during Ramadhan. This can be done if there is a request from players.
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola and Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp have also supported their players who were fasting. Guardiola excused Muslim players from the team lunch, which has been mandatory for players since 2016, when Guardiola took charge at Etihad Stadium.
During the month of Ramadhan, match reviews and discussions on the opponent's strengths that were usually done at lunch were rescheduled for dinner, following the afternoon practice.
Klopp also didn't mind that his players fasted on match days. The German coach supported his players by monitoring the nutritional needs of the three Liverpool stars who were fasting during Ramadhan: Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Ibrahima Konate.
Klopp has also implemented a policy to end the warm-up session for an evening game 2 minutes earlier, so the players can perform maghrib (evenieng prayer).
AFP/PAUL ELLIS
Liverpool's Egyptian midfielder Mohamed Salah (L) reacts as he is substituted for Liverpool's Senegalese striker Sadio Mane (R) during the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and Watford at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on April 2, 2022.
Positive steps
Support for fasting Muslim players shows growing tolerance and respect for diversity in European professional football. This issue had sparked controversy before, according to Jose Mourinho, the Portuguese coach of Serie A club AS Roma.
In the first match of the 2009-2010 season, Mourinho, who was then coaching Inter Milan, pulled Ghanaian midfielder Sulley Muntari, judging that he was not performing at his best because he was fasting.
Requests for players not to fast on match days also appeared in the contracts of Bundesliga teams for the 2009-10 season. At that time, Bundesliga 2’s FSV Frankfurt prohibited three of its players from fasting on match days, with the prohibition included in their contracts.
A number of clubs reinforced their policy on an appeal from the Central Council of Muslims in Germany in July 2010 to not allow players to fast during Ramadhan on match days.
"Keeping the body healthy is also important in Islam. Muslim professional players can fast when they are not competing,” the council’s general-secretary, Aiman Mazyek, said at the time.
However, starting with Mainz and Leipzig, a number of clubs have removed the clause from their contracts. German football has a respect for Muslim players. Two Muslim players, Mesut Ozil and Sami Khedira, were key players in leading Germany to the third-place final of the 2010 World Cup.
The actions of the two referees, Jollenbeck and Dankert, has thus opened a new Bundesliga chapter, broadcasting the message of tolerance through Germany and the world. As for Niakhate and Simakan, they have proven that fasting has not affected their commitment to give their best performances for their clubs.
