The French Football Federation (FFF), is reportedly prohibiting Muslim players from fasting during the month of Ramadan, sparking criticism from around the world. The move, observers say, is in compliance with the country’s stance on maintaining strict secularism, or the French legal principle of laïcité, which has drawn strong condemnation in recent years.
The federation is not new to this kind of controversy as it continues to adhere to the principles meant to enforce religious neutrality but for a country with, at least, 10% of its population reportedly practicing Islam, this policy is becoming really unpopular.
The policy, according to media reports this week, states that team meetings, group meals, and training sessions for the French senior and youth national soccer teams will not be modified on account of any player’s religion and that players who observe Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting and worship that runs this year from March 11th to April 10th, will not be permitted to fast while at the Claire Fontaine training base—they are told they can make up for missed fasting days after the current period of international practice and competition is finished. Last year, a similar directive ostensibly with health and performance in mind was reportedly given by staff for Les Bleus, the team’s nickname, as a recommendation but not a rule.
In response, youth midfielder, Mahamadou Diawara left the French men’s under-19 squad. “Some players are not happy with this decision,” an agent who represents several players for the youth and senior French teams said. “Some don’t want to cause a fuss,” the agent added, but “they believe that their religion is not respected and that they are not respected either.”
The federation president, Philippe Diallo, defended his organization’s approach to Ramadan in an interview with French newspaper Le Figaro, saying: “There is no stigmatization of anyone, there is absolute respect for everyone’s convictions. But when we are in the French team, we must respect a framework.”
Diallo referred to Article 1 of the federation’s founding statute, which he says ensures respect for the “principle of neutrality.” Under the article, “any speech or display of a political, ideological, religious or trade-union nature” is forbidden in competitions and events, with violators subject to “disciplinary and/or criminal proceedings.”
France’s sports minister announced a similar prohibition on French athletes wearing headscarves during the upcoming Olympics, set to take place in Paris from July 26 to Aug. 11, drawing widespread condemnation. A spokesperson for the United Nations High Commission for Human Rights slammed the ban, saying: “Restrictions of expressions of religions or beliefs such as attire choices are only acceptable under really specific circumstances that address legitimate concerns for public safety, public order or public health or morals.”