Germany: Play stopped during Bundesliga football match to allow Muslim player to break Ramadan fast
Augsburg (Germany): History was made in the Bundesliga as the game was halted during a match between Augsburg vs. Mainz 05 to allow Augsburg’s player Moussa Niakhate to break his Ramadan fast.
The video of the incident has since been doing rounds on social media platforms with users lauding the move by the referee who allowed the halt in the game briefly.
In the 65th minute, the sunset and the referee for the game, Matthias Jöllenbeck, was asked to halt play so Niakhate could break his fast.
And the referee obliged, marking the first time ever that a Bundesliga game had been stopped to allow a player to break their fast for Ramadan.
Moussa Niakhate was seen drinking some fluids before shaking hands with the referee and returning to play.
There were more examples of referees allowing players to break their fast in the Bundesliga this weekend.
In RB Leipzig’s 3-0 victory over Hoffenheim on Sunday, referee Bastian Dankert allowed Mohamed Siamakan a few minutes to hydrate.
These decisions from referees have been met by approval from the German Football Federation.
Lutz Michael Fröhlich, director general of communications for the German Referee Committee, said on Monday: “There is no general instruction in this regard, but of course, we support our referees allowing such drinking breaks during Ramadan at the request of the players.”
Play was stopped during Augsburg vs. Mainz 05 so Moussa Niakhaté could have a moment to break his Ramadan fast just after sunset 👏 pic.twitter.com/TwfbcpBfn7
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Double Olympic medallist Neeraj Chopra ties knot with tennis player Himani Mor
New Delhi: Javelin superstar Neeraj Chopra, one of India's most eligible bachelors, tied the knot with tennis player Himani Mor couple of days back in an intimate ceremony that has taken everyone by surprise.
The 27-year-old Chopra announced the marriage with the 25-year-old Himani, who hails from Haryana's Sonipat, on his social media handles.
"I began a new chapter of my life with my family. Grateful for every blessing that brought us to this moment together. Bound by love, happily ever after," Chopra wrote in a post with the pictures of the marriage ceremony.
Chopra's uncle Bhim told PTI that the marriage took place in the country and the couple has left for honeymoon.
Daughter of Chand Ram, Mor is currently pursuing a Masters Degree in Sports Management (Major) at the Franklin Pierce University in New Hampshire. She is an alumni of Delhi's Miranda House where she completed her bachelors degree in Political Science and Physical Education. He has a brother, Himanshu who is also a tennis player.
She participated at the 2017 World University Games in Taipei after competing at the national level for Delhi University. Her school website says she won a gold medal in the World Junior Tennis Championship held in Malaysia in 2016.
"Yes, the marriage took place in India two days back. I can't tell the place where it took place," Bhim told from his village at Khandra near Panipat in Haryana.
"The girl is from Sonipat and she is studying in the US. They have left the country for honeymoon and I am not aware of the places where they are going. We wanted to keep it like that," said Bhim, who stays with the Olympic double medallist at Khandra, when asked about the surprise development.
According to the All India Tennis Association (AITA) website, Himani's carrer best national ranking was 42 in singles and 27 in doubles in 2018. She started playing in 2018 only in AITA events.
Mor did her schooling at Little Angels School in Sonipat.
Amherst College in Massachusetts also lists her as an assistant coach of women's tennis as most major students can do some other job, along with study.
Chopra, who won a gold in Tokyo Olympics and a silver in the Paris Game, was earlier training in South Africa after he roped in world record holder javelin legend Jan Zelezny of Czech Republic.
