Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola called for more “respect” after a first-half stoppage allowing players observing Ramadan to break their fast was booed by sections of Leeds United supporters at Elland Road on Saturday.
Muslims around the world observing the holy month of Ramadan fast from sunrise to sunset with a number of City players taking part.
The boos could be heard in the 13th minute of the Premier League game, with that time coinciding with the sun setting in west Yorkshire, when the referee put a temporary halt to proceedings so City’s trio of Muslim players could break their fast.
Omar Marmoush, Rayan Aït-Nouri and Rayan Cherki took on fluids with Abdukodir Khusanov, another Muslim player at City, on the bench.
Guardiola spoke of the incident after full-time, saying beliefs and diversity must be respected.
“It’s the modern world, right? Look at what happens in the world right now again today,” Guardiola said
“You have to respect religion and respect the diversity, that is the point. The Premier League said for the fasting you can [spend] one or two minutes doing that, so the players did it. It is what it is, unfortunately.”
Anti-discrimination group Kick It Out have since released a statement, labelling the pause itself an “agreed protocol for several years now.”
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“It’s massively disappointing that some Leeds United fans booed when Manchester City’s players broke their fast during the first half of the match at Elland Road this evening,” the group said.
“This was compounded by the fact that an explanation was displayed on a big screen inside the stadium.
“Pausing the game to allow Muslim players to break their fast during Ramadan has been an agreed protocol for several years now. It’s an important and visible part of making the game welcoming for Muslim players and communities.
“But as tonight’s reaction shows, football still has a long way to go in terms of education and acceptance.”
Leeds assistant boss Edmund Riemer, filling in for Daniel Farke who was sent off after his frustrations towards the officials boiled over after full-time, told Sky Sports: “I’m focused on the game so I don’t really hear it, but disappointed with some supporters that that happened.”
City went on to win the game 1-0 with Antoine Semenyo scoring the only goal of the evening.
