Muslims all over the world are observing a day of fasting during the holy month of Ramadan, which has already started.

Muslims all over the world observe Ramadan, which is the Arabic name for the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, as a time for fasting, prayer, and introspection.

For Muslims, Ramadan is regarded as the holiest month. Moon sightings are used to determine the start and end of each month.

Muslims who observe this month-long fast refrain from eating, drinking, and obtaining other basic necessities from sunrise to sunset.

They broke the fast with a meal known as iftar, which is typically eaten after sunset.

The end of Ramadan is celebrated with a festival called Eid al-Fitr, which is a month after its start.

This year’s Ramadan started on March 22 and will end on the evening of Friday, April 21.

However, the Daily Post reports the controversy surrounding Ramadan (fasting) in football.

Many of the world’s top footballers, including Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah, Manchester City winger Riyad Mahrez, and Chelsea midfielder N'Golo Kante, are expected to partake in this year’s Ramadan and will abstain from eating or drinking during daylight hours.

Footballers who follow Islam are expected to fast, and leagues across the world are growing sensitive to the needs of Muslim players so that they can have their iftar even during a match.

It is always a challenge for Muslim players to cope with the rigors of professional football during Ramadan, as their set match-day preparations, which include adhering to a strict diet, fall by the wayside.

The English Premier League, or EPL, has since come up with a set of guidelines to show solidarity with the Muslim players by asking match officials in the domestic league to halt evening games so Muslim players can take liquids, energy gels, and supplements.

However, referees in the French professional leagues have apparently been told by the French Football Federation not to stop playing for players to break Ramadan.

Any Muslim player competing in French Ligue 1 will not be allowed to stop mid-game to break their fast.

The move by the French body blatantly contrasts the decision by the Premier League, which has instructed referees to pause matches to allow Muslim players to consume food and drink.

There have been diverse reactions from football stars to the move made by the EPL and Ligue 1 regarding Ramadan, with Aston Villa full-back Lucas Digne posting on his Twitter account and suggesting that the French federation was living in the past as he wrote “2023” alongside three facepalming emojis.

Meanwhile, Everton midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure claimed the Premier League was “the best league for Muslims to be in."

Speaking with The Daily Post on the subject matter, Idris Musa Adinoyi, the captain of Dawaki Rangers FC, Abuja, said: “Ramadan is a sacred month where Muslims around the world observe a series of worships, including fasting, almsgiving, dhikr, supplications, and a lot of salat.

“It greatly affects footballers as they cannot be fully devoted to two important things in their lives. You must do more of either fasting or football, and trust me, it is fasting (Ramadan) that will be the higher priority.

“Abstaining from eating or drinking anything all through the day; no nutritional supplements are to be taken during the day; less sleep due to late-night prayers.

“Hence, the vigorous training practices that are to be done by these footballers to keep them fit may be reduced temporarily to keep them from being too tired from fasting and playing football."

“Fasting in the month of Ramadan is only one of the five pillars of Islam, which are mandatory for every Muslim, and this doesn’t in any way prevent Muslims from engaging in other positive endeavors or aspects of their lives. Rather, Islam encourages it.”

Adinoyi added, “Personally, I will prefer to say what Muslims generally could achieve spiritually during this holy month of Ramadan is being affected by their respective professions or endeavors.

“But I believe football has evolved over the years. What the French League Association is doing by not allowing the Muslim players to break their fast during matches is not ideal, as it doesn’t depict the unity in diversity football that FIFA is trying to preach.

“If cooling breaks are being allowed at different intervals during a match for the benefit of the players and the game, what harm could breaking one’s fast bring to the game?"

“The Premier League knows the values of these Muslim players and what their faith means to them and football worldwide. A few days ago, we all watched when Chelsea Football Club held an iftar session for Muslim fans around London.

“Such practice is what we all preach and want to witness in today’s football worldwide." No sentiment nor prejudice, but unity and justice in doing what is right for humanity at large.”