Following Manchester City's 1-0 victory over Leeds in the 28th round of the English Premier League, Pep Guardiola addressed the controversial situation during the match. In the first half of the match, the referee gave a short break and allocated several moments for iftar for the players who were fasting during Ramadan. It was in this situation that the whistles of some fans in the stands were heard, and this situation caused a great discussion.
Guardiola reacted to this situation quite openly and firmly. He emphasized that the main issue here is respect for religion, a respectful attitude towards diversity, and a correct understanding of the modern football environment. The Spanish manager emphasized that the break was not at Manchester City's discretion, but according to procedures approved by the Premier League.
It was reported that the match was briefly stopped at Elland Road in the 13th minute. The reason is to allow fasting football players to get water and light supplements as soon as the sun sets. According to sources, Ryan Sherki, Ryan Ait-Nuri, and Umar Marmush were breaking their fast at the edge of the field, while Abduqodir Husanov was on the bench. The reason for the break was also explained on the stadium screen, but some fans still protested.
Guardiola commented that the players hadn't eaten all day, so they only received the necessary supplements and fluids for a short time. He assessed this as a simple human and professional necessity, explaining that it is inappropriate to look for problems here.
Not only Guardiola, but other parties also drew attention to this situation. In particular, Kick It Out, an anti-discrimination organization, called the fans' reaction "very sad" and reminded that such pauses during Ramadan have been agreed upon for several years.
In short, this episode in the game with Leeds took on a broader meaning than a simple one-minute break. Guardiola emphasized this once again: in big football, results are important, but respect, tolerance, and human dignity are no less important.
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