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Algerian footballer is DROPPED by French club Nantes for refusing to break his Ramadan fast on match day – whose manager previously said it was ‘forbidden’ for his players to not eat or drink before games
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Nantes manager Antoine Kombouare has controversially dropped one of his players for refusing to eat and drink on match day.
The French club’s boss left defender Jaouen Hadjam out of his squad this weekend for Sunday’s 3-0 loss against Reims.
The 20-year-old Hadjam, who has made nine appearances since joining from second-tier side Paris FC in January, refuses to break his Ramadan fast on match day for religious reasons.
And Kombouare insisted it was not a punishment – but that he wanted to protect his player from injury.
He said: ‘Jaouen? There is no controversy. It’s his choice and I respect it. This is not a punishment, but I have a framework.
Nantes’ Antoine Kombouare dropped one of his players for refusing to break a match day fast
Defender Jaouen Hadjam did not feature against Reims on Sunday after Kombouare’s decision
The left back is not eating or drinking on the day of home matches because of Ramadan
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Former Paris Saint-Germain coach Kombouare insisted he just wants his player to avoid injury
‘During the week, there are no problems with fasting players. I’m ready to support them if needed. We know it’s not an easy time.
‘But on gameday, you should not fast. And those who fast are not in the squad. I don’t want them to pick up an injury.’
Promising France-born left-back Hadjam – who made his debut for Algeria in their 1-0 win against Niger on Monday – has reportedly agreed to break his fast for away games, but not for home games.
He featured in the club’s 1-1 draw at Lyon on March 17 but that stance would also see him miss their French Cup semi-final at home on April 5.
Kombouare, 59, who managed Paris Saint-Germain between 2009 and 2011, revealed Hadjam’s team-mates agreed to break their fast so they could play against Will Still’s Reims.
Earlier this week, the French FA announced matches would not be paused to let Muslim players break their fast.
That is in contrast to the Premier League, who are allowing games to be temporarily paused to allow Muslim stars to eat and drink small amounts. Ramadan ends on April 20.
Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah refused to drink from a bottle of water handed to him after being substituted off during the Reds’ 4-1 loss against Manchester City on Saturday amid his Ramadan fast.
