French Football Federation under fire for discriminating against Muslim fasting players

The French Football Federation (FFF) is facing backlash after reportedly banning Muslim players from fasting during Ramadan while training with the national team. The decision has sparked accusations of discrimination and raised concerns about respect for players' religious practices.

Players observing Ramadan were told they could not fast while at the Clairefontaine training camp. They were informed that they could only make up for missed fasting days after international fixtures had concluded, Caliber.Az reports per Moroccan media.

This decision has ignited a strong response from critics, with Canadian sports journalist Shireen Ahmed remarking on X: “Hijab bans for women, and now there is a ban on fasting for players observing Ramadan. France continues to be champions of anti-Muslim behaviour.”

Many of France's national team players have African and North African roots, including prominent figures like Ousmane Dembélé, N’Golo Kanté, Elias Guendouzi, Ibrahima Konaté, and Ferland Mendy. Last year, Mahamadou Diawara, a youth midfielder, quit the under-19 squad in protest of the FFF’s policies. An agent commented, “They believe their religion is not respected and that they are not respected either.”

FFF president Philippe Diallo defended the decision in an interview with Le Figaro, saying, “There is no stigmatization of anyone… But when we are in the French team, we must respect the framework.” Diallo further explained that the federation enforces a rule of “neutrality” and prohibits political or religious expressions during matches.

This latest controversy follows a previous incident where the FFF ordered referees not to pause matches at sunset to allow fasting players to break their fast, unlike other leagues such as the Premier League and Bundesliga, which permitted such breaks. Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) fans even held up a banner that read: “A date, a glass of water, the nightmare of the FFF.” According to the FFF, matches interrupted for fasting breaks “do not comply with the provisions of the FFF statutes.”

Eric Borghini, president of the Federal Referees Commission, said that the issue was about “the scrupulous application of the first article of the federation’s statutes on the demanding respect of the principle of secularism in football,” adding, “The idea is that there is a time for everything. A time to play sport, a time to practice one’s religion.”

The FFF also continues to enforce a ban on the hijab for female players, even after FIFA lifted its own restrictions. The growing controversy has led to calls for action, with the “Everything Is Futbol” podcast urging Muslim players to boycott the national team, stating, “You’ll see how quickly France changes its ways once they realize they can’t field a good national team without multiple dual-citizen French/African athletes.”

By Vafa Guliyeva