In the first move for a major North American pro sports league, Major League Soccer has now a new rule allowing Muslim players to break Ramadan fasts during games.
On Saturday, April 1, MLS game between Real Salt Lake and Columbus Crew stopped for a fleeting pause, shorter than most stoppages for injuries or video reviews, yet, it meant the world to Mohamed Farsi and Steven Moreira, InsideHook reported.
Observing the Ramadan fasting, both players were 18 minutes into a professional soccer game when the referee stopped the game to allow them to break their fast.
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“I think it’s a big thing mentally. You know you’re not alone in this,” Moreira told InsideHook.
“Now it’s different [for me] because here they do everything to support me, to help me to play good, to train good, to help facilitate my fasting.
“When I played in France, you are just alone. You go home, you cook alone, and here it’s more different and communal.”
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Kyla Cross, who’s been the Crew’s dietician for three years, and the Crew have lobbied for a brief timeout during evening MLS matches so that Muslim players observing Ramadan fasting could obtain some nutrition and help them perform on the pitch.
“It’s emotional,” Cross, added. “You get goosebumps when you watch it happening.”
In a MLSSoccer.com post, Jeff Agoos, the league’s senior vice president of competition and medical administration, said, “MLS is the most internationally diverse sports league in the world, and we’re committed to providing an inclusive environment for everyone.”
“We wanted to be as proactive as we could to meet the needs of our players during a very important time in their lives, and important to our clubs as well.”
Praise
Columbus Crew president and general manager Tim Bezbatchenko applauded MLS for “fully recognizing the significance” of Ramadan and the fasting tradition for the league’s Muslim players.
“Soccer is the world’s game, and it is important that we are mindful and proactive about what is important to our players, staff and fans who have diverse backgrounds,” Bezbatchenko says.
“The MLS’ implementation of a stoppage in play this season is reflective of the inclusive nature of our sport, as well as our collective dedication to ensuring our players are always in position to be their best on the pitch.”
After the April 1 game, Farsi quote-tweeted an acknowledgment of the timeout from Crew beat reporter Bailey Johnson, and added “Thank you @MLS” with the grateful-hands emoji.
Thank you @MLS 🙏🏽 https://t.co/FwCrAs2b9Y
— Mohamed Farsi (@Farsi_15) April 2, 2023
Asked if the MLS fast-break timeout helps him feel more included in the American soccer community and the league, Farsi responds: “100%, 100%.”
“It’s not my country, so I came here and see people making these initiatives to let us feel that we are at home and we are accepted — whatever religion, wherever you are from — and that’s beautiful,” he said.