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Former Newcastle striker praises Klopp and criticises Kombouare for treatment of Muslims during Ramadan.
Ex-Senegal international Demba Ba is the latest to criticise Nantes manager Antoine Kombouare for dropping Algerian left-back Jaouen Hadjem for refusing to break his fast for a football game.
Ba hit at the Nantes boss, saying he was denying the player his 'identity'. He also cited Liverpool's manager, Jurgen Klopp, as an exemplary manager in how to deal with fasting footballers.
What Demba Ba said
Ba, in replying to a tweet that was reporting Kombouare's choice to leave out Hadjam, said the Nantes manager mistook fasting as a behaviour instead of an identity.
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He thought it was unreasonable to ask someone to abandon their identity, claiming that was what the 59-year-old had done, making the player choose between his religion and football.
“Still thinking that fasting in the month of Ramadan is behavioural amazes me,” Ba said on his Twitter.
“For those who are still wondering, we are talking about the identity side of a person.
A simple question, is it a good thing to ask someone to put aside their identity?”
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16:20 - 03.04.2023
Nantes manager explains why he dropped a player for fasting in Ramadan
Nantes coach Antoine Kombouare explains why he dropped Jaouen Hadjem out of the squad to face Reims on Saturday because the player refused to break his fast.
He went ahead to draw comparisons with Jurgen Klopp, saying the German put his Muslim players in the best of conditions to perform, claiming that is the appropriate approach to managing Muslims in the holy month.
The former Chelsea striker believes fasting players should be put in the best condition to perform and should only be dropped if they are unable to perform, and not before.
“Like Klopp, an appropriate management would, in my opinion, put the players in the best conditions so that they can perform. And if they don't perform, then they should be dismissed, for sporting and non-identity reasons.”
Kombouare gives reason for his decision
In a detailed report here, Nantes boss Antoine Kombouare explained his controversial decision to leave Jaouen Hadjem out of the squad to face Reims on Saturday because the player refused to break his fast.
Kombouare explained that the decision was not novel but rather a long-standing guideline he has stuck to throughout his coaching career.
He revealed that it was a policy of his to leave players who are fasting out of matchday squads.
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15:55 - 02.04.2023
Moses Simon's Nantes suffer heavy defeat to Balogun's Reims
Moses Simon was profligate as his Nantes suffered a heavy defeat to Reims.
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17:24 - 02.04.2023
Nantes player misses Ligue 1 game after refusing to break Ramadan fast
Nantes player Jaouen Hadjam was left out of the squad that lost to Reims after refusing to break his Ramadan fast
The former Paris Saint-Germain manager said that he respected Hadjem's religious beliefs and that the decision to leave him out of the squad was not a sanction, but instead a guideline.
He also revealed that he had no issues with players fasting during midweek training, but believes footballers should not fast and play football together.
Related content
16:20 - 03.04.2023
Nantes manager explains why he dropped a player for fasting in Ramadan
Nantes coach Antoine Kombouare explains why he dropped Jaouen Hadjem out of the squad to face Reims on Saturday because the player refused to break his fast.
17:24 - 02.04.2023
Nantes player misses Ligue 1 game after refusing to break Ramadan fast
Nantes player Jaouen Hadjam was left out of the squad that lost to Reims after refusing to break his Ramadan fast
15:55 - 02.04.2023
Moses Simon's Nantes suffer heavy defeat to Balogun's Reims
Moses Simon was profligate as his Nantes suffered a heavy defeat to Reims.
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