An issue that would most likely crop up on international media during the Round of 16 matches at this year's World Cup would be concerning Muslim players like French striker Karim Benzema and Germany's Mesut Ozil.
The New York Times said the observance of Ramadan is a religious obligations for Muslims, who fast and forgo liquids from dawn until dusk for about a month. As Muslims all over the world prepare for the beginning of Ramadan, which will be on Saturday night, it would be curious to know how Muslim players set to play for their home teams in their upcoming knockout matches prepare for their games and at the same time follow their religious obligations.
Custodian Mohamed Zeinhom Abdien of the only mosque in Rio de Janeiro, Mesquita da Luz Mosques, confirmed to the Times that there have been an influx of Muslims, including players, who have prayed in the mosque after the local imam gives the call to prayer in Portuguese.
Professor of sports nutrition Ron Maughan at Loughborough University in England said that little is known about the effects of fasting on athletes, especially in international matches. Maughan led a team that examined such effects on athletes at the 2012 London Olympics, which was the last time Ramadan coincided with a major sports event. The findings revealed that the overall effect was small, but it would be difficult to measure such effect in a complicated, multifaceted sport like football, he said.
Maughan explained, "In track athletics, 0.1 percent or even 0.01 percent may make the difference between winning and losing. In football, there are many factors affecting outcome, but games are often decided by the smallest of margins. It might be fair to say there is no large effect."
FIFA attempted to address the issue, given the fact that the hosting nation is Brazil, where the dry season is from May and November with temperatures recorded at over than 38 degrees Celsius. If one needs to simplify how hot Brazil is, one could recall that FIFA had its first water break in the World Cup history during the match between US and Portugal. The Epoch Times said that ESPN broadcast that day revealed that temperature in Manaus was over 32 degrees Celsius.
Dr. Michel D'Hooghe, the chairman of FIFA's medical committee and a member of its executive committee said, "We made an important study with the doctor of the Algerian Football Federation, and it was very positive. If you do it intelligently, then you can adapt perfectly. Before the sun comes up, they have enough hydration to go on through the whole day."
The Swiss team, which has several Muslim players including Bayern Munich's Xherdan Shaqiri, confirmed through its spokesperson that they have made no special provision for Ramadan in its players, although none of them would be fasting until after the tournament. The Times said the French was believed to have adopted the same plan.
Yaya Touré of Ivory Coast, however, who also plays in the Premier League, for Manchester City, had told a UAE newspaper, "Fasting? Have you seen the weather? I would die."
His brother, however, did not share the same views. Kolo Touré, who is also in the same team with his brother and is a Liverpool defender, told his club's website last year, "After that, the body just starts to (adapt) and you feel really happy. You clean your body as well, and you feel even stronger after Ramadan."
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