French midfielder Mahamadou Diawara has quit the French Under-19 squad over new regulations that ban players from fasting during Ramadan. The regulations, put in place by the French Football Federation (FFF), conflict with Diawara’s religious beliefs. As a result, he has decided to leave the team.
Diawara felt that the new regulations were incompatible with his religious beliefs and chose to leave the team and return to his club, Lyon. The new rules are applied to all youth and senior teams under the French Football Federation.
Following Diawara’s departure, the FFF has confirmed that Dehmaine Tabibou Assoumani of Nantes will join the French Under-19 squad in his place.
In a recent interview with Le Figaro, FFF president Philippe Diallo explained the reasoning behind the new regulations. He stated that France’s founding statutes call for a “principle of neutrality” and that the measures are designed to separate religion from the sporting environment. He also emphasized the importance of protecting the health and safety of athletes.
Under the new FFF regulations, players called up by French national teams must adhere to the usual operations and schedules of the teams. This includes following the usual meal and rest schedules, even during Ramadan.
Players who observe Ramadan, which began between March 10-11 and is expected to end around April 10, will not be able to fast while at the country’s Clairefontaine training base and will have to make up for the fasting days they miss at the end of the religious festival.