Fifa not worried about fitness of players fasting during Ramadan

Agency

Muslim players at the World Cup observing Ramadan should not suffer any deterioration in their physical conditioning, Fifa’s chief medical officer Jiri Dvorak said Monday.

Ramadan begins on Sunday.

Dvorak told reporters at Fifa’s daily media briefing: “We have made extensive studies of players during Ramadan, and the conclusion was that if Ramadan is followed appropriately, there will be no reduction in the physical performances of players. We have done extensive studies and nothing worries us. The players observing Ramadan always have the provision to ask for an exemption and follow Ramadan at a more appropriate time. This is what I have learnt from the religious leaders in Algeria.”

Michel D’Hooghe, chairman of Fifa’s medical committee told reporters: “It should not be a problem and we had the same thing at the London Olympics two years ago.”