Surjit Patowary

Leeds Fans Boo Manchester City Players Breaking Ramadan Fast At Elland Road

Leeds United, Manchester City, Matchgoing Fans, Pep Guardiola, Premier League

Sections of the Elland Road crowd booed a brief, pre-agreed pause in Saturday’s Premier League match between Leeds United and Manchester City to allow Muslim players to break their Ramadan fast.

Referee Peter Bankes halted play in the 13th minute as sunset arrived in west Yorkshire, with Manchester City’s Rayan Ait-Nouri, Rayan Cherki and Omar Marmoush heading to the touchline to take on fluids.

The stoppage lasted 78 seconds. It had been pre-agreed with Leeds United, was permitted under Premier League rules, and a clear explanatory message was put up on Elland Road’s big screen for all supporters to read. None of it stopped the boos from ringing out.

Pep Guardiola, Manchester City manager (post-match press conference)

“It is a modern world, right? Look at what happens in the world right now again today. Respect religion, respect the diversity. That is the point. The Premier League said, ‘OK for the fasting, you can be one or two minutes’, so we did that for the players. It is what it is, unfortunately.”

He also added, in a separate part of the presser: “They follow this religious tradition. We have good nutritionists and they adapt to what the team needs. We cannot adapt the schedule for the Premier League times and I think they are used to it. Both Rayans, Omar and Khusa, it is not the first time for Ramadan and they know perfectly how to handle it.”

Kick It Out (official statement posted on X/Twitter)

“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. 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. As tonight’s reaction shows, football still has a long way to go in terms of education and acceptance.”

Edmund Riemer, Leeds United assistant manager (post-match interview, standing in for the sent-off Daniel Farke)

“I’m probably the guy who doesn’t hear a lot because I’m really focused on the game, but I’ve heard about it. Obviously some of the supporters did it, so we try to learn out of it. It’s disappointing. We need to do better next time.”

Pep Guardiola, pre-match press briefing (speaking before the Leeds game about his fasting players)

“We have good nutritionists and they adapt to what the team needs. We cannot adapt the schedule for the Premier League kick-off times and I think they are used to it. They are not young and have been playing for many years during this period. For the players I think it is not new. Both Rayans, Omar and Khusa, it is not the first time for Ramadan and they know perfectly how to handle it.”

How the internet reacted to Leeds United fans booing the Ramadan water break for Man City players –

@PhilLUFC – They didn’t announce anything pre-match & the message was slow to go up. People were frustrated at a break to the early momentum. With good communication it could have been different, there were multiple reasons for boos

…But it wouldn’t have been eliminated as many carried on

@craigyboyjedi – Genuine question if this was pre agreed with Leeds why is the ref having to explained to Leeds players what is happening? You can clearly see the confusion in the clip you used.

@reesd3lo_itfc – Either way the fans where always going to boo i cant see why ko times cant be adjusted so they can break their fast during halftime

@DevotionDj – Well the PL will stop games and change the rules now, so get used to it. Only thing is if a team is on top and then this break happens that is unfair and changing a game totally, that is simply not on at all.

@Wulfrunian – Well done Leeds fans 👏

@Revie2Bielsa – They booed that ALL the players went off & Pep used it as a tactic break

@Tomtownend99 – Its not a case of being islamophobic etc. Most Leeds fans aware of why they did it and hold no hatred towards them for doing it but its a big game and its just the fans continuing to make a hostile atmosphere for the opposition and nothing more. Lets not read too much into this

@pistol1603 – None of the fans had a clue why the game was stopped, that is why the booing started. It only flashed up on the scoreboard after that.

@thearinW – Can;t even imagine playing professionally at this level on fast including no water…

@ConnorHarkins22 – Respectfully, keep religion out of sport.

Should the manager wish to select players knowing they’ll need to take time out, they should be forced to play with 8 men until they’re fit to rejoin the game, or, omit them from the squad.

@PYJohansen – Why cant they just go to the sidelines and take a sip when the ball is out? Why does it need to be broadcasted?

@Punjabi_whites – I did think it was because Pep was having a team talk (again) but yeah if you’re booing people having water its a bit thick

@_billyreid – Our fans booing Ramadan in the stadium need to have a good look at themselves tbh

@allleedsaway – And their keeper feined an injury in the last game for a team talk. But that doesn’t generate clicks.

@AlexanderToon94 – So many grown men sat around me absolutely fuming that they had the audacity to stop the game for roughly 60 seconds, so that people who havnt drank a drop all day can have a drink. The ignorance is baffling and its such a shame that it paints a lot of us in a bad light again

@milesiam – It was the loud racist minority unfortunately, emboldened by the current ‘acceptance’ of far right ideologies in the press and on here. It’s a shit show. Gutted.

@robchocs – Hey 👋 Were you in the stadium today? I was watching on TV and it looked liked nobody, including players and fans knew why there was a break and when they saw all the city players going to Pep, they booed – because of what happened at City. I hope it a mass misunderstanding –

@Jamieblufc – I think majority of the boos was because people didn’t understand what was going on and because of what happened in the reverse fixture at the Etihad

@marcjbrine – I was really ashamed. Awful.

@Leedsfan32 – I personally thought it was because we all pay to watch football and have a day out not to sit for a minute watching people eat and drink allowing pep to have a talk with his players, didnt even know we were having a break for ramadam

@delwright21 – I think the booing is for the team talk

@StevoGrimmnir – I did too, everyone around me in south stand didn’t even mention Ramadan

@Farke_In_El – If you think it was because Pep was giving an impromptu coaching session why are you saying folk were booing cos players were drinking water

@AlisonR93638756 – Have to admit I & a lot around me didn’t initially understand what was going on & didn’t see the screen message. In future it would be helpful to have an announcement just before kick off to say “there will be a break” and why – then no excuses can be made

@UnitedWhite – I think if it was just those breaking their fast who went over for their water/nutrition then it wouldn’t have had the same reaction. The first thing I noticed was everyone gathering around pep for a team talk – just like the away game. It was a break for a fast, not tactics.

@MauriceH5125 – I thought they booed because of the away game at City and the fake injury/ time wasting and touchline coaching

@flaco897 – Not allowed to have religious messaging if it’s Christianity but that’s fine just let the minority have theirs all over the display board

@kennybrown1964 – Can’t the do it b4 kick off I always thought of Fasting to be closer to god was sacred and a personal thing not for public showing ?

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