First of all, Ramadan Mubarak to everyone and wish you a blessing month.

The topic question?

Should football players, or Athletes in general fast during important game day?

Back in the 2014 World cup, many of the muslim players didnt fast during the holy month, such as Karim benzema, Yaya toure, Sami Khedira and much more.

Even the algerian team were asked about this question before heir game against Germany.

Some replied that they will, some say they will try, and some didn't want to answer "private customs".

So what are your opinions about this case.

Ramadan is a holy month where every muslim MUST FAST
Fasting meaning that they shouldnt eat or drink till dawn.

Also for a better thought, imagine if it was any other religion with the same case of fasting, what would you do? It doesnt have to be Ramadan, if there is any day where a religious person must fast for a period of time, and on the same day, a event occurs where there will be a lot of work and stuff..

I would like to here your opinion since the euros are here and once again, it is ramadan now, so what should the players do? Fast and dont play? Play and dont fast? Do both?

Arent most games at night?
If not then if i was a footballer i would sleep for like 7 hours before a match and stay up longer during nights. Also it is good in ramadan to worship god at nights.

I believe it should be entirely a personal choice. I live in Canada, and about half the Muslims I know don't fast (and trust me, I know hundreds of Muslims). This is because they are not particularly religious, or aren't interested in spending the hot summers fasting. The situation should be similar for footballers. If they are devout Muslims, then they should fast and try their best to play. If they are not particularly religious, then they probably won't fast. Sometimes they may be devout Muslims but may choose to put their football career above their religion, and thus they may not fast during these crucial weeks.

Religion is an entirely personal choice. Even if you are Muslim, not all Muslims are religious to the same degree. Some may not even believe in a God but still respect the Islamic teachings. Faith is a relative concept, and footballers should think carefully about how far they are willing to go for faith, regardless of their religion.

It should be personal choice . However, there is also commitment to the team . So it is more of ethical question and sportsmanship . Tough decision . Can't they fast after tournament ?

Those who are excused not to fast are the pregnant, traveller and the ill.
Plus they cant fast after the tournament cause it will be pointless, its like celebrating new year on the 6 of Jan.

Religion is an entirely personal choice. Even if you are Muslim, not all Muslims are religious to the same degree. Some may not even believe in a God but still respect the Islamic teachings. Faith is a relative concept, and footballers should think carefully about how far they are willing to go for faith, regardless of their religion.

+1

If the athletes fast that's up to them. They know the consequences that they will see on the field if they do, and if they think that the holy month means that much, then they accept that drop in performance. Either way, I won't judge them for their decisions, but if I was a coach, I'm trying to pick my best eleven. If Ramadan changes that eleven, that's something everyone has to accept.

I have read somewhere that if you miss days you can make it up . What if on the match day they don't fast ?

I have quite a few muslims on my soccer team and I have so much respect for them during ramadan. Most of the fast even though they are playing in around 40 degrees weather. Last night, I had a game and one of the muslims on my team was fasting and felt so tired before the game that he wasn't going to come. We convinced him to come and just not to play as much. We won the game 2-1 and he scored the winning goal despite being so hungry :).

Back to the topic, it is all up to the individual person and how faithful they will be whether to fast or not. Im a Christian and we believe that God is a loving and forgiving God (I'm pretty sure muslims believe the same). That being said, I think God (or Allah) will understand that not fasting because you have a game is a good reason and will forgive you. Once again, it is up to the individual person and how devote they want to be to their religion.

No u cant miss a day whenever u want to. Only if u are sick, travelling or pregnant. Then u have to make it up after. I would anyway play the match no matter what.

Agree with everyone, its depend on how faithfull they are or what is more important for them. Their faith or their perfomance in game.

@Louis Nice to hear that, I'm also a christian. Well, even though I don't go to the church that often. :p

There are exceptions, like children, the elderly, pregnant women, and
others with conditions that require food or water. If you're traveling
or sick, you don't need to fast. You're only expected to fast if
you're healthy.

The athletes at the World Cup can technically say they're traveling,
but they're also all healthy. Muslims in the knockout round include
France's Karim Benzema, Germany's Mezut Özil, Switzerland's Xherdan
Shaqiri, and various players from Nigeria and Algeria. In the hot,
sticky temperatures of Brazil, fasting could significantly affect
their performance, if not done properly. One imam in 2011 said that
athletes can make up their days of fasting at a later date for a
special circumstance—like, say, the World Cup, which only happens
every four years. So, it'll mainly depend on their devotion.

There's no concrete proof that Ramadan will make athletes perform
better or worse. But the Muslims that do choose to fast during the
World Cup will—along with their training staffs—do everything in their
power to make sure that when they're on the field, no one can even
tell that they're fasting.

There are some studies that suggest fasting during Ramadan may have
minimal to no effect on an athlete’s performance. A study of young
national level Judo athletes found they were able to maintain normal
training loads during Ramadan fasting and that it had little effect on
their aerobic performance. In some instances, performance may even
improve. Another study of Tunisian soccer players determined that when
training load was maintained, sprint performance was better during
Ramadan in comparison with before Ramadan. It has also been found that
athletes may employ physical and emotional coping mechanisms to deal
with the situation.

So footballer can disqualify himself to fast as travelling person .

@Marcus Interesting.

Yeah lol actually true they wud be travelling so they can be excused.