A few days ago, he took to the field while fasting. And that day, Lamine Yamal’s performance was also eye-catching. He scored a goal and assisted in the Champions League match against Benfica while fasting. Yamal is taking to the field once again in the month of Ramadan in the same condition. This time, his opponent is the Netherlands. And he will be wearing the Spanish jersey.
It has never been seen before that a footballer in a La Roja jersey has taken to the field fasting. Yamal will be the first to take to the field fasting. Yamal will play in both home and away matches against the Netherlands in the UEFA Nations League schedule. The first leg will be played in the Netherlands tonight. The return leg will be played in Spain next Sunday.
Many countries have strict rules regarding playing football during the fasting month of Ramadan. However, Spain’s head coach Luis de la Fuente has no objection to Yamal. De la Fuente said at a pre-match press conference in Rotterdam yesterday, “It is completely normal for us. He will follow the same principles and rules that he follows at his club (Barcelona). The medical team and nutritionist have given him guidelines on his diet.”
De la Fuente, the coach who led Spain to Euro and Nations League titles, also said that they have respect for all religions, “We have the utmost respect for all beliefs. He is in the best condition to play. Although I have never faced such a situation before. But you have to move forward as always.”
The country’s media is calling the fact that a Spanish player is fasting and playing in a match a “milestone.” Lamine Yamal was even seen observing the fasting rule during the team’s practice session.
Spain has a Muslim population of about 2.5 million. During Ramadan, like Muslims in other countries, they also abstain from all kinds of food and drink from sunrise to sunset with purity and discipline. Muslims were welcomed by almost every major club in Europe, including Spain, at the beginning of this glorious month. For footballers like Lamine Yamal, short breaks are kept between games for iftar. Although there has not been an official announcement yet whether there will be a break in the Nations League match.
Yamal is not the first Muslim footballer to play for the Spanish national team. Adama Traore, Ansu Fati, Munir El Haddad are also Muslims. However, Traore, Munir or Fati have not played a match for Spain during Ramadan.
