Nantes coach ‘dropped player’ after he ‘refused’ to break his Ramadan fast

FC Nantes coach Antoine Kombouare has sparked a major controversy ahead of the team’s match against Reims on Sunday.

According to reports in France, Kombouaré requested that Muslim players refrain from practicing Ramadan during match days. While most players agreed to the request, 19-year-old Algerian fullback Jaouen Hadjam chose to continue fasting, resulting in his exclusion from the team’s lineup.

Nantes player Kalifa Coulibaly recently stated that he couldn’t keep his place in the team if he continued fasting during Ramadan. Kombouare attempted to diffuse the situation, claiming that the players’ health was his primary concern.

“I met them (the Muslim players in the squad), we talked,” said Kombouare.

“We work so that it goes well. And it often does. There is the desire that at the weekend, the players are at the top to help the team win.”

The French Football Federation (FFF) released a statement this week opposing the interruption of games due to Ramadan, meaning that Muslim players abstaining from food and drink during matches will not be permitted to break their fast when “Iftar” coincides with the progress of a game.

The controversy surrounding Kombouare’s request has sparked outrage among many, with some accusing him of discrimination against Muslim players.

Others have defended his stance, citing the importance of players’ health and performance on game days.

Meanwhile, in England the Premier League have put together special exceptions to make sure Muslim players are able to complete Ramadan.

The measures include games being paused to make sure players can break their fast during the proper times, but it will only be for games at certain times.