RAMADAN QUESTIONS ANNOY ALGERIA WC TEAM

**Ramadan Questions Annoy Algeria WC Team**. (Photo : On Islam)

Porto Alegre, 2 Ramadhan 1435/30 June 2014 (MINA) – With all eyes fixed on Algeria match against Germany on Monday, the team’s coach refused to comment on never ending questions about whether his players will observe fasting during their game or no as a private matter.

“This is a private matter and when you ask this you lack respect and ethics,” Algeria coach Vahid Halilhodzic said at a pro-match news conference, BBC reported, OnIslam quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting, Monday.

“The players will do as they wish and I would like to stop this controversy.”

Ramadan, the holiest month in Islamic calendar, started this week around the world.

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In Ramadan, adult Muslims, save the sick and those traveling, abstain from food, drink, smoking and sex between dawn and sunset.

Muslims dedicate their time during the holy month to be closer to Allah through prayers, self-restraint and good deeds.

Abstaining from food and water from dawn to dusk, Muslim players in different World Cup teams have been facing a shower of questions about the holy month and whether they will observe it or no.

With special exemption from Ramadan fasting given under Islamic rulings to the sick and travelling, some players were expected to delay the fasting to a more suitable time.

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“Ramadan is here and I read in some Algerian newspapers criticisms about me, about my image, about my honor,” Halilhodzic, a Bosnian Muslim himself, said.

“They are trying to raise hatred against Vahid, against my family, and this is really disgusting.

“It is not the first time I have Muslim players in my team, I myself am a Muslim, and I’ve always left them totally free. This is a private issue – it has to do with private freedom of expression.

“Those who continue criticizing our team and my actions, I think it’s shameful. But I will continue [as coach], I will continue working with this team. I’m sorry that you continue criticizing what I do.

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“Stop asking me about Ramadan, otherwise I will get up and leave.”

Algeria captain Madjid Bougherra has indicated he will observe the holy month, but Germany midfielder Mesut Ozil and France defender Bacary Sagna have said they will not.

Halilhodzic’s squad were accompanied to Brazil by Hakim Chalabi, a sports medicine specialist and one of Fifa’s leading experts on fasting footballers. (T/P012/E01)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)