• Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • Galleries
  • Browse
  • Login
  • Register

Ramadan and football

Article synopsis: Another look into Ramadan and football after Sudan complains

Date: 200909

Ghana’s football star Sulley Muntari Ali leaps to the defence of Ramadan at the merest mention of it. He practises it. He certainly knows its demands.

“It’s a little bit [hard],” he responds when asked how easy it is to cope with Ramadan demands. “It is a Holy month. I have to cope with it because it’s only 30 days and I will be fine.”

To the uninitiated, according to the Qu’ran, “Ramadan is a period in which Muslims are supposed to fast for a month except those that are sick or on a journey.” The practise, which is part of the five pillars of Islamic faith, comes with its own regime. No Sex. No smoking. No chewing gum. No eating or drinking from sunrise to sunset.

It is the lack of adequate eating and fluid intake that leaves people like Dr. Rabei Hussain, the Sudanese medic, concerned about Ramadan’s effects on sportsmen. The subject has come under the microscope again because Dr. Hussain argues the Sudanese could have perhaps performed better against Ghana had his players not been fasting. He says world football mother-body Fifa should consider altering its calendar in order not to disadvantage players of Islamic faith during Ramadan. “During Ramadan, any reduction by two per cent of body fluids reduces the psychological, technical and tactical concentration of players by more than 20 per cent,” he explained.

Dr. Hussain could be right. In his team’s 2-0 loss to Ghana, all but three members of his team were practicing Ramadan. In contrast, Ghana only had two players in the starting eleven on it.

In Ghana’s football circles, to state that Muntari is a star is accurate but it might actually diminish his actual status: he’s adored. His body functioned on less than half its normal energies and fluids to score Ghana’s opener in the World Cup qualifier against Sudan.

Yet two weeks earlier, Muntari could not complete a league match against Bari and after being substituted, his coach Jose Mourinho, remarked, “Ramadan has not arrived at the ideal moment for a player to play a football match.”

The Portuguese’ comments did not in particular go down well with Mohamed Nour Dachan, president of the union of Islamic communities in Italy. “I think Mourinho could do with talking a little less,” he told Sky television.

In the Ghana versus Sudan match, the Egyptian referees that handled the match were fasting.

“Definitely,” responds Sudanese coach Stephen Constantine on whether FIFA should consider considering the football calendar during Ramadan.

Hossam Alaidy, an Egyptian sports journalist, also thinks FIFA have got it wrong to allow matches involving fasting Muslims during Ramadan. “It is not only Muslims who practice fasting but also other religious groups like Christians and Jews. FIFA should be careful and fair,” he notes.

In fact, skipping Ramadan is not something of a religious felony; it’s an individual’s choice. It cannot earn players a few lashes on their buttocks. For example, in the last qualifiers, Morrocco passed a decree that allowed players to break their fast while Algeria played their match at night to allow players to eat. Yet Tunisia, another devout Islamic country, played their match against Nigeria in the afternoon.

Meanwhile, although there is no official FIFA position on the matter, the body continues to carry out research on Ramadan’s effect on footballers’ health. FIFA president Sepp Blatter, told goal.com: “It is very important that football can see beyond religion. But FIFA does not just ignore its impact. “For example, Doctor Yacine Zerguini, an eminent specialist at the FIFA Medical Assessment and Research Centre, has been conducting ongoing research on the effects of observing Ramadan for Muslim players that has been very positive.”

ENDS

CONTACT US TO NEGOTIATE A PACKAGE FOR YOUR SPECIFIC NEEDS

    X
    Image Number: APN292167
    Title: TTicon
    Path: african.pictures / Twenty Ten / Nikki Rixon
    Description: T10logo
    Collections: Independent Photographers
    Subcollections: Nikki Rixon
    Orientation: portrait
    Pixel Size: 2500 x 3308
    Media Id: 1_741
    Credit: Nikki Rixon / Africa Media Online
    Property Release: No

Main Menu
  • Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • Galleries
  • Blog
Legal
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Help

Africa Media Online

2007/004727/07

PRIVACY POLICY

THIS PRIVACY POLICY (“POLICY”) GOVERNS THE PROCESSING OF PERSONAL INFORMATION BY AFRICA MEDIA ONLINE IN CONNECTION WITH AFRICA MEDIA ONLINE’S ARCHIVE WEBSITE (“WEBSITE”) LOCATED AT [https://african.pictures/]. YOUR USE OF THE WEBSITE IS SUBJECT TO THIS POLICY. BY USING THIS WEBSITE, YOU SIGNIFY YOUR CONSENT TO PROCESSING OF YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION IN ACCORDANCE WITH THIS PRIVACY POLICY.

AFRICA MEDIA ONLINE MAY AMEND THIS POLICY AT ANY TIME. AMENDED TERMS SHALL BE EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY UPON THE POSTING OF THE REVISED POLICY AND ANY SUBSEQUENT ACTIVITY IN RELATION TO THE WEBSITE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY SUCH AMENDED TERMS. IF YOU DO NOT AGREE WITH ANY TERM IN THIS POLICY, PLEASE DO NOT USE THIS WEBSITE.

This Agreement was last revised on 31-03-2020.
Enquiries: Kate Dearlove

  1. PERSONAL INFORMATION COLLECTION AND USE
    1. Subject to consent, Africa Media Online collects, stores and uses information from Archive Content Subjects (persons whose personal information is determined from the digitisation or digital processing of records belonging to Africa Media Online) for the following purposes:
      1. to compile and maintain an archive for Africa Media Online,
      2. to be published in marketing and communications materials, including but not limited to, school magazines, brochures, newsletters and published photographs on the Website or otherwise,
      3. to provide the Archive Content Subjects with direct marketing communications regarding Africa Media Online’s activities and news.
    2. We collect Personal Information from the following persons:
      1. natural persons over 18,
      2. natural persons under 18 with the consent of a competent person,
      3. juristic persons such as companies duly represented by a representative,
      4. people who send enquiries or requests to our contact email address.
    3. Categories of persons listed in clause 1.4 may include Website Users and Archive Content Subjects and in certain instances persons may categorised as both.
    4. Africa Media Online may also automatically collect and store non-personally identifiable information from Your use of the Website.
    5. Africa Media Online may collect the following personal information from Website Users:
      1. name,
      2. surname,
      3. username and password,
      4. job description,
      5. organisation name,
      6. organisation type,
      7. organisation URL,
      8. email address,
      9. telephone number,
      10. mobile telephone number,
      11. facsimile number,
      12. address,
      13. city and province,
      14. postal code,
      15. country,
      16. type of organisation,
      17. the market the organisation serves,
      18. non-personal browsing habits and click patterns,
      19. IP address,
      20. purchasing information and buying patterns,
      21. any additional information necessary to deliver our services,
      22. details of responses to Your enquiries and any online communications between us and You, and
      23. any information provided to us by You.
    6. Africa Media Online may collect the following personal information from Archive Content Subjects: 1.8.1 name,
      1. name,
      2. surname,
      3. date of birth,
      4. age,
      5. gender,
      6. race,
      7. language,
      8. culture,
      9. physical health,
      10. ethnic origin,
      11. education information,
      12. religion,
      13. disability,
      14. marital status,
      15. pregnancy,
      16. mental health,
      17. biometric information,
      18. location information,
      19. employment history,
      20. personal opinions, views or preferences,
      21. The views or opinions of another individual about the person;
      22. videos recordings,
      23. audio recordings,
      24. manuscripts,
      25. photographs, and
      26. any additional information that can form part of the archive of Africa Media Online.
    7. We may use cookies or other tracking technologies to collect information such as the pages You visit or the information You request. The Website hosting agents and/or service providers may automatically log Your “IP address” which is a unique identifier for Your computer and/or other access device. Such information collected is for aggregate purposes only.
  2. CONSENT TO PROCESS YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION
    1. If You are a Website User, You consent to the processing of Your Personal Information specifically including (i) to greet the User when he/she accesses the Website, (ii) to inform the Website User of facts relating to his/her access and use of the Website as well as to assist with problems, (iii) to provide the Website User with access to the Website and the associated Website services, (iv) to provide the Website User with direct marketing communications regarding Africa Media Online’s activities and news, and/or (v) to compile non-personal statistical information about browsing habits, click-patterns and access to the Website.
    2. If You are an Archive Content Subject, You consent to the processing of Your Personal Information specifically including (i) to compile and maintain an archive for Africa Media Online, (ii) to be published in marketing and communications materials, including but not limited to, school magazines, brochures, newsletters and published photographs on the Website or otherwise, and/or (iii) to provide the You with direct marketing communications regarding Africa Media Online’s activities and news.
    3. The processing of Your Personal Information shall include the collection, receipt, recording, organisation, collation, storage, updating or modification, retrieval, alteration, consultation, use; dissemination by means of transmission, distribution or making available in any other form; or merging, linking, as well as blocking, degradation, erasure or destruction of information.
    4. By using our Website, You represent that You are of the age of 18 or older or that you have necessary authorisation from a competent person and that you consent to Your Personal Information to be processed by Africa Media Online.
    5. You expressly consent to Africa Media Online retaining Your Personal Information once Your relationship with Africa Media Online has been terminated for: aggregate, statistical, reporting and historical purposes.
    6. In the event that You wish to revoke all consent pertaining to Your Personal Information and/or You would like Africa Media Online to remove and/or delete Your Personal Information entirely, You may contact Africa Media Online via email to [pictures@africamediaonline.com]
  3. HANDLING OF PERSONAL INFORMATION
    1. Africa Media Online endeavours to comply with all laws and regulations applicable to Africa Media Online pertaining to information and communications privacy including, but not limited to, the 1996 South African Constitution and the Protection of Personal Information Act 4 of 2013 (“the Act”). Africa Media Online applies the principles of protection of Personal Information under such Act and further legislation referred to in the Act.
    2. Africa Media Online seeks to ensure the quality, accuracy and confidentiality of Personal Information in its possession. You warrant that all personal information supplied by You is both true and correct at the time of provision. In the event of any aspect of Your personal information changing post submission, it is Your responsibility to immediately notify Africa Media Online of the said changes by email to Kate Dearlove. You agree to indemnify and hold Africa Media Online, its officers, directors, employees, agents, and suppliers harmless from and against any claims, damages, actions and liabilities including without limitation, indirect, incidental, special, consequential or punitive damages arising out of Africa Media Online’s reliance on Your personal information should Your personal information contain any errors or inaccuracies.
    3. You warrant that You have the authority, permissions and consents to provide Africa Media Online with any third party information submitted to Africa Media Online.
    4. Africa Media Online will take all reasonable measures in order to ensure Your Personal Information is appropriately safeguarded, these precautions include, but are not limited to: access control mechanisms via username and password, and software protection for information for security.
    5. Should an unauthorised person/s gain access to Your Personal Information Africa Media Online will contact You within a reasonable time to inform You of such access.
    6. Africa Media Online may share Your PersonaI Information with authorised third parties such as service providers to Africa Media Online. These include, but are not limited to digital archiving service providers. Africa Media Online does not permit these parties to use such information for any other purpose than to perform the services that Africa Media Online has instructed them to provide. All processing is compatible with such purpose.
    7. Africa Media Online may appoint certain agents, third parties and/or service providers which operate outside the borders of the Republic of South Africa. In these circumstances Africa Media Online will be required to transmit Your Personal Information outside South Africa. The purpose of the trans-border transfer of Your Personal Information may include, but is not limited to: data hosting and storage. You expressly consent to the trans-border flow of Your Personal Information.
    8. The Website may contain links to other websites. Africa Media Online is not responsible for the privacy practices of such third party websites.
  4. RECORDS OF PERSONAL INFORMATION
    1. Records relating to the provision of Africa Media Online products and/or services by Africa Media Online to You and the Personal Information submitted by You is retained for publication on the Website and/or to provide you with the Website services.
    2. Such records may be required to be retained in terms of legislated records retention requirements, Africa Media Online’ operational purposes and/or for production as evidence by Africa Media Online in legal proceedings.
    3. In terms of Section 14(2) of the Act records of personal information may be retained for periods in excess of those contemplated in 4.1 for historical purposes. Africa Media Online warrants that appropriate safeguards are in place to prevent the records being used for any other purpose.
    4. Africa Media Online may disclose Your Personal Information under the following circumstances: 4.4.1 To comply with the law or with legal process;
      1. To protect and defend Africa Media Online’s rights, equipment, facilities and other property;
      2. To protect Africa Media Online against misuse or unauthorised use of the Website and/or products and/or services; and/or
      3. To protect other Website Users or third parties affected negatively by Your actions in use of the products/services and/or the Website.
  5. ACCEPTABLE USE
    In connection with the Digital Archive Material (as made available through the Website) You agree that:

    1. No Item containing the image of or reference to a person is to be used for a purpose other than for which rights are granted by Africa Media Online, without prior express written permission of Africa Media Online.
    2. Only a single digital copy of an Item may be stored on a single computer, hard drive, or any other storage device, and that that copy may not be duplicated in any way whatsoever, except for a single backup copy which may only be used in the event of the original being deleted, lost, or irreparably damaged.
    3. Once the Item has been used for the purpose for which use rights were granted, all copies of the Item must be deleted, apart from where it forms part of the archive of what was published.
  6. OBJECTIONS, COMPLAINTS AND QUERIES
    1. Should You have any questions about this Privacy Policy, require a correction to be made to Your Personal Information that Africa Media Online keeps on record, request a copy of the record itself, lodge an objection to the collection, Use or processing of Your Personal Information by Africa Media Online, or delete Your personally identifiable information, you may send an e-mail to [pictures@africamediaonline.com]
    2. There may be instances where we cannot grant You access to the Personal Information we hold. We may need to refuse access if granting access would interfere with the privacy of others or if it would result in a breach of confidentiality. Should this be the case, we will give You written reasons for any refusal.

Confirm Order

Please confirm that you would like to order a high quality version of this item. Once your order is placed, a request for approval will be sent to the relevant archivist who may respond to you with questions. If your order is approved, you will be notified and the file will be made available for download.

Loading...

Login

Lost your password?

Register

Login

Please enter login details below.



Forgot your password?
Register Now

Register

Note: Your password will be generated automatically and sent to your email address.