Referee halts Bundesliga game to allow Muslim player break his Ramadan fast; video goes viral
For the first time in history of the German Bundesliga, referee halted Bundesliga match between Mainz and Augsburg to allow a player to break his Ramadan fast.
During the 65th minute of the match at the WWK Arena, referee Matthias Jollenbeck stopped play at sunset, to allow Moussa Niakhate to drink water to break his fast. Niakhate broke his fast and then thanked the referee for heartwarming gesture.
The video was widely shared on social media.
“For the first time in history, a Bundesliga game was stopped for so that a Muslim player could break his fast during the match. In the game between Augsburg and Mainz 05, the referee stopped the game at sunset so Moussa Niakhaté could take some fluids”
As reported by News18, again on Sunday, referee Bastian Dankert allowed Mohamed Siamakan to drink water and break his fast during the Bundesliga game between RB Leipzig and Hoffenheim,.
Lutz Michael Frohlich, the director of communications for the German Referee Committee is quoted to have said, “There is no general instruction in this regard. But of course, we support our referees allowing such drinking breaks during Ramadan at the request of the players.”
