Leicester City’s Center-back, Wesley Fofana took to Twitter on Monday to appreciate the Premier League for allowing him to break his Ramadan fast during a league game.
In the Premier League match between Leicester City and Crystal Palace which took place on Monday evening, April 26, the center referee, Graham Scott had to bring the game to a halt after the one-hour mark to allow Wesley Fofana and Cheikhou Kouyate to break their Ramadan fast.
After the game, it was gathered that Leicester City and Crystal Palace agreed with the center-referee to halt the game so that the Muslims in the match could break their Ramadan fast.
Also, it was gathered that Wesley Fofana and Cheikhou Kouyate are the first Muslims in the Premier League that were given such an opportunity in the history of the league.
During the break, the two players took energy drinks and Fofana went on to play for the rest of the match without being substituted.
Hence, at the end of the day, Fofana tweeted: “Just wanted to thank the @premierleague as well as @CPFC, @vguaita13 all the Foxes for allowing me to break my fast tonight in the middle of the game. That’s what makes football wonderful”.
Just wanted to thank the @premierleague as well as @CPFC , @vguaita13 all the Foxes for allowing me to break my fast tonight in the middle of the game. That's what makes football wonderful 🙏🏾✊🏾#WF3 #PourEux pic.twitter.com/d56o8A8ZGo
— LAWESTT (@Wesley_Fofanaa) April 26, 2021
The Premier League match ended 2-1 in favor of Leicester City courtesy of goals from Leicester City’s Timothy Castagne, Kelechi Iheanacho, and Crystal Palace’s Wilfried Zaha.
Since the Ramadan fast started on April 12, Wesley Fofana had to be substituted early due to the impact of the Ramadan fast. For instance, in the Premier League game between West Brom and Leicester City on April 22, Fofana had to be substituted at the one-hour mark.
After the game, Leicester City coach, Brendan Rodgers said he had to substitute him so that the 20-year-old French defender could break his Ramadan fast on the bench.
“It was just one where I thought if I could get him off then he could get some food into him on the bench, and just protect him a little bit,” Rodgers said. “I’ve worked with lots of players with devotion to their faiths and for a lot of the guys, it gives them strength.
“He’s finding an incredible strength to play continuously and train during Ramadan. He’s a special talent and a big player for us.”
This year’s edition of the Ramadan fast which started on April 12 is expected to end on May 12. It is a period in which Muslims across the world fast and pray in line with the instructions in the Qur’an.
