Leeds United fans boo Ramadan fast break during Manchester City match
Leeds United have described the booing heard during a Ramadan fast break in Saturday’s Premier League defeat to Manchester City as “disappointing,” reports BritPanorama.
The club’s supporter liaison officer indicated in an email that it was disappointing that some fans chose to boo during the pause in play to allow players observing Ramadan to break their fast. The correspondence added that the club is currently looking into the incident and what measures can be taken moving forward to prevent a recurrence.
Leeds have privately acknowledged that their communication to fans leading up to the fixture was insufficient. Following the match, numerous supporters contacted the club expressing frustration at the delayed public response, with some describing themselves as “deeply disturbed” and “embarrassed” by the events.
Manager Daniel Farke addressed the controversy at his pre-match press conference ahead of Tuesday’s home fixture against Sunderland. He suggested that supporters may not have understood the reason for the stoppage, alluding to memories of the reverse fixture at the Etihad Stadium in November. “I am not sure everyone was aware when the sun went down,” Farke explained.
Farke emphasized that his team had a strong start before the pause occurred. “We had such a good start to this game; we were battling them and all over them in the first 10 minutes and our supporters had the feeling they are doing the same as the first game, and because of this, they were booing,” he added. Notably, the earlier encounter had seen City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma accused of faking an injury to “bend the rules.” This stoppage had also allowed City manager Pep Guardiola to regroup his players with tactical instructions.
On Saturday, the Ramadan break took place in the 13th minute of the 17:30 GMT kick-off, with players from both sides taking the opportunity for hydration and energy supplements. The pause lasted around a minute, during which loud jeers and whistles could be heard from the stands. Leeds had initially trailed 2-0 before mounting a spirited comeback to level at 2-2, only for City to ultimately secure a 3-2 victory.
Farke later stated that he does not believe the booing was rooted in religious intolerance, insisting: “I don’t think it has anything to do with the break for Ramadan – I don’t think anyone was really aware.” He underscored the role of football in uniting individuals from various backgrounds and faiths. Moving forward, he noted that clearer communication would be necessary for any similar stoppages, especially considering a potential repeat during Sunday’s FA Cup quarter-final against Norwich at Elland Road.
City’s Guardiola criticized the reaction of the fans, commenting, “It’s the modern world, right? Respect the religion, respect the diversity.” In response, the anti-discrimination body Kick It Out condemned the booing, stating that football “still has a long way to go in terms of education and acceptance.”
As Leeds navigate this incident, the complexities of sport and societal values collide in ever-shifting ways, reminding all that understanding can sometimes be as elusive as a last-minute equalizer.
