Guardiola calls for respect after Ramadan break is booed at EPL

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola called for more “respect” towards other cultures after a break to allow his players to break their fast during Ramadan was booed in a 1-0 win at Leeds.

Omar Marmoush, Rayan Ait-Nouri and Rayan Cherki took on fluids during the break after 12 minutes at Elland Road, with Abdukodir Khusanov, another Muslim player, on the City bench.

During the holy month of Ramadan, Muslims worldwide fast from dawn until sunset.

In recent years, the Premier League has agreed for breaks in play after sunset to allow players to replenish their energies.

“It’s the modern world,” said Guardiola, who recently spoke out to highlight the humanitarian disasters caused by conflicts in Palestine, Ukraine and Sudan.

“Respect the religion, respect the diversity. That is the point. The Premier League said: ‘Ok for the fasting, you can be one or two minutes’, so we did that for the players.”

Anti-discrimination organisation Kick It Out posted said the reaction in Leeds, home to one of the largest Muslim communities in Britain, showed that there is still a “long way to go in terms of education and acceptance.”

In a statement, Kick It Out said: “It’s massively disappointing that some Leeds United fans booed when Manchester City’s players broke their fast during the first half of the match at Elland Road.

“This was compounded by the fact that an explanation was displayed on a big screen inside the stadium.”

The incident came just a week after police began investigating “abhorrent” racist abuse directed online at four Premier League footballers.

Chelsea’s Wesley Fofana and Burnley’s Hannibal Mejbri suffered abuse following a 1-1 draw between their clubs at Stamford Bridge on February 21.

Wolves’ Tolu Arokodare and Sunderland’s Romaine Mundle were then targeted 24 hours later after their sides lost Premier League games.

Meanwhile, Guardiola is confident Erling Haaland’s injury will not be a “big issue” after the Manchester City striker missed his side’s vital 1-0 win against Leeds on Saturday.

Haaland was a surprise absence from the City line-up at Elland Road following the minor knock he suffered in training on Thursday.

City coped without Haaland as Antoine Semenyo’s first half goal sealed their fourth successive Premier League victory.

Guardiola’s men are just two points behind leaders Arsenal, who host Chelsea on Sunday, as the title race heats up.

Losing the prolific Haaland for a prolonged period would be a hammer blow for City, but Guardiola does not believe the Norway star will be out for long.

“We don’t have spies in the training centre to deliver the info to our media. I think it is not a big issue. We will see,” he said.

Asked when Haaland will be back, Guardiola added: “I don’t know. I wish he comes back.”

City have a better winning ratio in the league without Haaland than with him, but even so they had to dig deep to subdue fired-up Leeds at raucous Elland Road.

“The reaction was amazing, unbelievable with the goal we scored. Complete game, in a tough, tough place and 10 games left in the Premier league. Time to be decisive,” Guardiola said.

Semenyo’s close-range finish came after an impressive approach play by Rayan Cherki and Rayan Ait-Nouri.

The trio all joined City as part of Guardiola’s overhaul in the last 18 months.

“Now we are building these players and they have a long, long time here. It is important for the future for the club,” Guardiola said.

“Cherki, for me, is the best game. Solidity and aggressive with the ball. All of them were really good, commitment and they stick with the game-plan. Now, in that part of the season – how is the mindset?

“Once again the guys make an extraordinary effort because otherwise it is not possible.

“After nine months, everyone knows what they want to do.”

Guardiola refused to be drawn on City’s bid for the seventh title of his reign.

But the destiny of the title is in their hands, with 10 wins from their last 10 games guaranteeing the trophy no matter what Arsenal do.

Agencies