It’s the first time it has happened in the Bundesliga
Mainz 05 defender Moussa Niakhate thanked officials for allowing him to break his fast for Ramadan during their Bundesliga game against Augsburg.
Muslims around the world are currently observing Ramadan, meaning that they cannot eat or drink during daylight hours, with some players’ fasts ending while they are playing games.
The referee was praised for his decision
However, in the 65th minute of the game last week, referee Matthias Jollenbeck paused the game to allow Niakhate to break his fast.
The defender was seen drinking from two bottles in order to allow him to take on board as much fluids as possible before he then went over to thank Jollenbeck.
https://twitter.com/DLF_Sport/status/1513416559049408514?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1513416559049408514%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sportbible.com%2Ffootball%2Fniakhate-thanks-referee-for-allowing-him-to-break-fast-20220412
It marks a historic moment as this is the first time such an occasion has been allowed to happen in the German top-flight.
The league’s director general of communications for the German Referee Committee, Lutz Michael Frohlich, revealed on Monday that he had approved for referees to pause games to allow players to break their fast.
He said: “There is no general instruction in this regard, but of course we support our referees allowing such drinking breaks during Ramadan at the request of the players.”
Fans were also quick to praise Jollenbeck’s decision to allow Niakhate to break his fast in a series of positive messages on Twitter.
One user said: “Amazing moment in the Bundesliga. Play is stopped to allow Moussa Niakhaté, a Senegalese-French Muslim, to break his Ramadan fast.”
Amazing moment in the Bundesliga. Play is stopped to allow Moussa Niakhaté, a Senegalese-French Muslim, to break his Ramadan fast 👏. https://t.co/yXTjy2CnYr
— Ciarán Ó Meachair 🇵🇸 (@CiaranOMeachair) April 11, 2022
Another said: “I see that as a very fine thing.”
Das empfinde ich als eine sehr feine Sache. https://t.co/bAjbmGuXZi
— Nicolas (@VerzinkteRinne) April 11, 2022
The Premier League began implementing the rule last season
Last season, play was halted in Leicester City’s Premier League game away to Brighton and Hove Albion to allow defender Wesley Fofana to break his fast.
Since then, the theme has become a common practice in the top-flight – most recently when Everton midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure broke his fast in his side’s game against Burnley.
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