May 29 2010
The issue of faith and fasting is gradually rearing its head and creeping into the international football scene.
Playing under the tropical sun in their World Cup qualifier against Ghana, the Sudanese players showed signs of poor fitness. It was not surprising when the medical officer attached to the team, Dr Rabei Hussain, admitted that playing a game against a well-drilled team, with 11 players who were on their Ramadan fast, was not good for the side.
But there was an irony. One of the Ghanaian scorers of the two goals of the game, Sulley Muntari, is a Muslim and was fasting himself. Some spectators at the stadium said that Hussain was just looking for excuses. A study by two German academics, however, shows that there is some physical danger associated with fasting and engaging in physical activities at the same time.
The study was done by FW Schmahl and B Metzler of the University of Tuebingen’s Department of Occupational and Social Medicine. They claimed that Muslims they observed in their study who strictly avoid fluids and nourishment from dawn to sunset during Ramadan, face substantial health risks.
They claim that in the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) numerous Muslims, particularly of Turkish origin, who perform heat work and other heavy labour tasks, showed moderate to severe health disturbances during Ramadan. They suffered side effects like tachycardia, severe headaches, dizziness, nausea, vomiting and circulatory collapse. Because of the evidence of the substantial health hazard to Islamic workers in such situations, they have strongly urged employers to refrain from assigning Islamic workers to heat work or heavy daytime work during Ramadan.
It’s not an easy decision when your sports career depends on it. Former Egyptian international and now a member of the Egyptian Football Association, Magdy Abd Al Ghany said, “It is a very difficult situation that requires a personal decision. For me, my spirit is more important to me and l have had to fast and play against the advice of my coaches when l was playing professional football.”
Al Ghany admits that it is a challenge for Egyptian football, especially when they have to play in international competitions during the month of Ramadan. But he states that the final decision rests with the individual player to make a choice between his faith and â-¨profession.
Mujahideen Ryder, a popular online Islamic blog writer, commented on feedback from Doctor Yacine Zerguni, a member of the FIFA and African Football Confederation (CAF) Sports Medical Committees who collaborated with the FIFA Medical Assessment and Research Centre to observe two professional clubs in Algeria. He concluded that although many players who were tested could not adapt to playing whilst fasting, “One has to remember that it is highly likely that the effects of Ramadan are also linked to the spiritual qualities and physical capabilities of each athlete”.
Some football analysts say that the FIFA may soon have to address the issue of Muslim countries that have to play international competitions with countries that do not observe the Muslim period of fasting. Al Ghany disagrees with this. He believes it would be unethical and not in line with FIFA’s code of values to use religion to distort the international sports calender.
Egyptian Muslim scholar Sheikh Haruna Fawzia, believes that the Quran is clear on the issue of fasting. “For those whose work may be affected during Ramadan, they have the liberty to either give alms in lieu or ask someone to fast on their behalf,” he said, “And in addition, there is the option of a Fatwa which is an Islamic ruling that can give an exemption.” He mentioned the edict by Dar al-Ifta, the country’s highest religious institution, which allowed the players to break their fast so that it did not interfere with the training programme for the players of the Under-20 tournament in Egypt.
Media reports in Egypt claimed the players refused to break the fast and insisted on playing. And the Dar al-Ifta was criticised by religious hardliners who claimed that Islam was being diluted. Ahmad Awad, an Al Ahly fan believes that, “The Fatwa is stupid. Would they exempt ordinary workers who toil daily in the factories to find the appropriate time to do their fasting? This is Ramadan and must be observed with strict spiritual codes.”
In the UK, one Muslim player has taken the other route to offer alms. Bradford City defender, Zesh Rehman who is the first Moslem in the English Premiership, claimed he did not fast during the Ramadan month. He told the Telegraph and Argus that, “it comes down to making a personal choice. I’m not 100 percent strict, but there are certain things I will do.” He went on to add, “You cannot fast and expect to still train every day as normal. Being involved in a football environment, you need that regular nutrition. It doesn’t make you a bad person or a bad Muslim.” He believes that there are ways for making up for not fasting – like giving wages, or buying toys for a hospital. “As long as you give back in other ways, it’s okay,” he said.
With the issue turning global, it is obvious that it will attract broader attention and FIFA might soon be called upon to address the issue. Though there are fears that adhering to the fast might affect the health of players, the issue has deep-seated religious feelings and will need to be tackled with the utmost of care.