| MANAUS // This Saturday will mark the start of the World Cup knockout stages. It will also, for millions of Muslims around the world, mark their final unrestricted day before the start of the holy month of Ramadan, in which abstinence from food and liquids during daylight hours is mandatory. With six of the 32 national teams competing in Brazil coming from countries with a substantial Islamic presence – and three being drawn together in Group F – it is inevitable that teams with Muslim players will be involved in the tournament’s latter stages. It is the first time for 28 years that Ramadan has overlapped with a World Cup. Bosnia-Herzegovina, Algeria, Cameroon, Iran, Ivory Coast and Nigeria all have large Muslim populations, while the likes of France, Switzerland and Germany also have players of Islamic faith. Players such as Edin Dzeko, Mesut Ozil, Yaya Toure and Karim Benzema will have to decide whether to fast during daylight hours or postpone until their country’s tournament is over. In Brazil, such are the hours of daylight, fasting would equate to about 13-and-a-half hours without food or liquids. To continue reading, click here. |
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Gary MeenaghanSports scribbler. Pedant with prose. Alliteration addict. Omnivore. Archives
June 2015
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