Religion

cbayer

(146,218 posts) Sat Jun 28, 2014, 08:00 AM Jun 2014

Ramadan adds an off-field challenge for World Cup’s Muslim athletes

http://www.religionnews.com/2014/06/27/ramadan-adds-field-challenge-world-cups-muslim-athletes/

Janet Tappin Coelho | Jun 27, 2014

RIO DE JANEIRO (RNS) As the World Cup reaches the quarter finals this Saturday (June 28), a number of Muslim players whose teams have made it through the tough group matches will be facing a bigger challenge off the field than on it.

Sami Khedira, midfielder for Germany, is one of the Muslims who is anticipated to compete in the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Creative Commons image by Stefan Baudy

Sami Khedira, midfielder for Germany, is one of the Muslims who is anticipated to compete in the 2014 FIFA World Cup during Ramadan. Creative Commons image by Stefan Baudy
The holy month of Ramadan coincides for the first time since 1986 with the soccer tournament. The 30-day period of fasting and prayer, which requires dawn to dusk abstinence from food, drink and sex, begins Saturday and is expected to end July 28.

It will be a critical testing time for practicing Muslim players who need to be in peak condition to meet the demands of the game during the knockout matches. Add to this Brazil’s heat and humidity, which has prompted required breaks every 30 minutes to rehydrate athletes with water.

Those likely to be affected include France’s Karim Benzema, Bacary Sagna, Mamadou Sakho and Moussa Sissoko; German midfielder Mesut Ozil and teammate Sami Khedira; Swiss midfielder Xherdan Shaqiri; and Belgium’s key players Mousa Dembele, Marouane Fellaini, and Adnan Januzaj.

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10 replies

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Ramadan adds an off-field challenge for World Cup’s Muslim athletes (Original Post) cbayer Jun 2014 OP

No accommodations should be made. edhopper Jun 2014 #1

No accommodations are being made as far as I can tell, so cbayer Jun 2014 #2

Yes that is what I am saying edhopper Jun 2014 #3

Many of them are playing and even see the challenge of following the Ramadan protocol cbayer Jun 2014 #4

Sandy Koufax, the World Series and Yom Kippur rug Jun 2014 #5

I wasn't familiar with this story. Thanks for the link, it's a great article. cbayer Jun 2014 #7

Have you ever played a regulation match of soccer? AtheistCrusader Jun 2014 #6

Soccer is certainly more dehydrating Goblinmonger Jun 2014 #8

they could just break the fast for their health Lordquinton Jun 2014 #9

There are many alternatives and they are each making their own decision. cbayer Jun 2014 #10

edhopper

(33,491 posts)

1. No accommodations should be made.

Reply to cbayer (Original post)

Sat Jun 28, 2014, 10:18 AM

Jun 2014

It is the players choice on what they should do. If they can't play because of their religion, they can't play.

cbayer

(146,218 posts)

2. No accommodations are being made as far as I can tell, so

Reply to edhopper (Reply #1)

Sat Jun 28, 2014, 10:22 AM

Jun 2014

I'm not sure what your point is here. The only sacrifices are being made by the players themselves.

edhopper

(33,491 posts)

3. Yes that is what I am saying

Reply to cbayer (Reply #2)

Sat Jun 28, 2014, 10:27 AM

Jun 2014

they should follow their priorities. In the end, it is just a game and if their religion dictates they can't play, they shouldn't play.

cbayer

(146,218 posts)

4. Many of them are playing and even see the challenge of following the Ramadan protocol

Reply to edhopper (Reply #3)

Sat Jun 28, 2014, 10:31 AM

Jun 2014

as a potential asset.

It reminds me of a friend of mine who is a practicing Jew. He owns a shop on Venice Beach that sells bikinis, flip flops and other beach stuff.

The busiest day of the week in that location is Saturday, yet he never works in the store between sundown Friday and sundown Saturday.

In doing this, he has to trust that those he employs will do the right thing and his business will survive.

It's an interesting situation, imo.

rug

(82,333 posts)

5. Sandy Koufax, the World Series and Yom Kippur

Reply to cbayer (Reply #4)

Sun Jun 29, 2014, 12:18 AM

Jun 2014

http://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2010/09/god-vs-the-world-series-sandy-koufaxs-yom-kippur-sacrifice/63094/?single_page=true

cbayer

(146,218 posts)

7. I wasn't familiar with this story. Thanks for the link, it's a great article.

Reply to rug (Reply #5)

Sun Jun 29, 2014, 08:24 AM

Jun 2014

AtheistCrusader

(33,982 posts)

6. Have you ever played a regulation match of soccer?

Reply to cbayer (Reply #4)

Sun Jun 29, 2014, 02:15 AM

Jun 2014

Without water? In that heat/humidity?

If they don't break the fast for the period of play, that could result in a life threatening condition.
(Sounds like they could make up the time they went off-fast after sundown?)

Goblinmonger

(22,340 posts)

8. Soccer is certainly more dehydrating

Reply to AtheistCrusader (Reply #6)

Sun Jun 29, 2014, 09:42 PM

Jun 2014

but one of the Minnesota Vikings (can't remember his name) was/is Muslim and he had a whole "you need to drink this many gallons of gatorade" etc before sun-up. He basically had to prehydrate so he could make it through a day of practice. Was actually pretty impressive article from what I remember.

Lordquinton

(7,886 posts)

9. they could just break the fast for their health

Reply to cbayer (Original post)

Mon Jun 30, 2014, 03:23 AM

Jun 2014

And do public service at another time for pennance, so much ado about nothing, really.

cbayer

(146,218 posts)

10. There are many alternatives and they are each making their own decision.

Reply to Lordquinton (Reply #9)

Mon Jun 30, 2014, 08:38 AM

Jun 2014

I don't think it's much ado about nothing, as nobody is making a big deal about it. It's just an interesting story.

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