Religion
Related: About this forumRamadan adds an off-field challenge for World Cup’s Muslim athletes
http://www.religionnews.com/2014/06/27/ramadan-adds-field-challenge-world-cups-muslim-athletes/Janet Tappin Coelho | Jun 27, 2014
RIO DE JANEIRO (RNS) As the World Cup reaches the quarter finals this Saturday (June 28), a number of Muslim players whose teams have made it through the tough group matches will be facing a bigger challenge off the field than on it.
Sami Khedira, midfielder for Germany, is one of the Muslims who is anticipated to compete in the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Creative Commons image by Stefan Baudy
Sami Khedira, midfielder for Germany, is one of the Muslims who is anticipated to compete in the 2014 FIFA World Cup during Ramadan. Creative Commons image by Stefan Baudy
The holy month of Ramadan coincides for the first time since 1986 with the soccer tournament. The 30-day period of fasting and prayer, which requires dawn to dusk abstinence from food, drink and sex, begins Saturday and is expected to end July 28.
It will be a critical testing time for practicing Muslim players who need to be in peak condition to meet the demands of the game during the knockout matches. Add to this Brazils heat and humidity, which has prompted required breaks every 30 minutes to rehydrate athletes with water.
Those likely to be affected include Frances Karim Benzema, Bacary Sagna, Mamadou Sakho and Moussa Sissoko; German midfielder Mesut Ozil and teammate Sami Khedira; Swiss midfielder Xherdan Shaqiri; and Belgiums key players Mousa Dembele, Marouane Fellaini, and Adnan Januzaj.
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edhopper
(33,639 posts)It is the players choice on what they should do. If they can't play because of their religion, they can't play.
cbayer
(146,218 posts)I'm not sure what your point is here. The only sacrifices are being made by the players themselves.
edhopper
(33,639 posts)they should follow their priorities. In the end, it is just a game and if their religion dictates they can't play, they shouldn't play.
cbayer
(146,218 posts)as a potential asset.
It reminds me of a friend of mine who is a practicing Jew. He owns a shop on Venice Beach that sells bikinis, flip flops and other beach stuff.
The busiest day of the week in that location is Saturday, yet he never works in the store between sundown Friday and sundown Saturday.
In doing this, he has to trust that those he employs will do the right thing and his business will survive.
It's an interesting situation, imo.
rug
(82,333 posts)cbayer
(146,218 posts)AtheistCrusader
(33,982 posts)Without water? In that heat/humidity?
If they don't break the fast for the period of play, that could result in a life threatening condition.
(Sounds like they could make up the time they went off-fast after sundown?)
Goblinmonger
(22,340 posts)but one of the Minnesota Vikings (can't remember his name) was/is Muslim and he had a whole "you need to drink this many gallons of gatorade" etc before sun-up. He basically had to prehydrate so he could make it through a day of practice. Was actually pretty impressive article from what I remember.
Lordquinton
(7,886 posts)And do public service at another time for pennance, so much ado about nothing, really.
cbayer
(146,218 posts)I don't think it's much ado about nothing, as nobody is making a big deal about it. It's just an interesting story.