As the Blessed Holy Month of Ramadan came to an end, under current coronavirus restrictions, large celebrations were not allowed, so although restrictions are soon due to ease, people were being reminded to follow the rules to limit the spread of the virus.
While Eid al-Fitr marked the end - where people would traditionally be getting together to celebrate the end of dawn-to-dusk fasting with large scale events, festival food and prayer - in sport, the effect of continuing to fast while competing is fast making people more accepting and compassionate for religious beliefs and followers. In Premier League football, a Muslim presence is fairly prominent as follows:
Champions-elect Manchester City have Benjamin Mendy, İlkay Gündoğan and Riyad Mahrez Sadio Mane, Naby Keita, Xherdan Shaqiri and Mohamed Salah of Liverpool, Shkodran Mustafi, Sead Kolasinc,, Mohamed Elneny and Granit Zhaka of Arsenal, Aston Villa’s Ahmed El Mohamady, Anwar El Ghazi and Mahmoud Hassan Trezeguet, Alireza Jahanbaksh and Beram Kayal at Brighton, Chelsea’s Antonio Rudiger, Kurt Zouma, N’Golo Kanté, Crystal Palace’s Mamadou Sakho, Cheikou Kouyate and Jordan Ayew, Djibril, Cenk Tosun and Oumar Niasse at Everton, Leicester City’s Eldin Jakupovic, Caglar Soyuncu and Rachid Ghezzal, Manchester United’s Paul Pogba, Sheffield United’s Muhamed Besic, Southampton’s Mohamed Elyounoussi, Moussa Djenepo and Sofiane Boufal, Tottenham Hotspur’s Serge Aurier and Moussa Sissoko and West Ham United’s Issa Diop. Each one endeavouring to excess for their respective clubs, whilst keeping their faith and values in tact for the world to see.
Lowe down the football ‘food-chain’, those (faith and sporting) values were equally highlighted in Birmingham, in the UK. During Ramadan Saltley Stallions Football Club offered matches every week to Muslims to get together to play football late at night after the daily fasting. The league was launched in 2018 and this year the games were played outside for the first time.
The Club’s founder, Obayed Hussain, who also the founded the Midnight Ramadan League, said: "Ramadan was a time to concentrate on wellbeing and fitness, so we wanted to provide a regular outlet and space for our players to socialise safely. It was a pleasure to lead and watch everyone dedicate themselves to fasting and training during this special month.
"Our sessions were framed around positive mental health and to encourage those from all backgrounds and ability to come and enjoy the game after fasting. We worked with EA Sports for this year’s Midnight League, taking inspiration from its Volta initiative to encourage players to think about the game away from big stadiums, bringing it back to the grassroots foundations of the club.
“Being able to showcase the skills our communities have at their feet against the best influencers and legends of the game was a great endorsement for us."
Eid al-Fitr began in the evening of Wednesday, May 12 and ends yesterday evening (Thursday May 13). Ramadan began on the evening of Monday April 12 in the UK, and end on the evening of Monday May 12.