‘Nothing anti-Islamic in football’: Kerala Muslim cleric

Muslim cleric Sajid Rashidi on November 27 reacted on a circular issued by Samastha Kerala Jam-Iyyathul Ulama criticizing football craze in Muslim youths and said that the FIFA World Cup 2022 is not ‘distracting’ the youths and is not ‘anti-Muslim’.  

"There is nothing anti-Islamic in football. If it would have been why Qatar would host the World Cup. They should then issue an order against Qatar for hosting the football world cup. Anybody can take interest in football since it's a sport," said Sajid Rashidi.

Recently, Samastha Kerala Jam-Iyyathul Ulama in Kerala issued a circular in which it criticized the soccer craze in the Muslim youths. Notably, SKJIU is one of the largest Muslim organisations in Kerala.

The cleric further explained that cheering up football players is a personal choice and has nothing to do with religion.

"Cheering for a fan or even holding the flag of a country has nothing to do with religion. People from Pakistan can like Indian players and vice versa," said Sajid Rashidi.

Earlier, Nasar Faisi general secretary of Samastha Kerala Jamiyyathul Ulama landed himself into controversy over his remark on football."

The devotees of football shouldn't spare prayer time for it since the sport is a drug," he said.

Nasar Faisi further added that the youth should refrain from spending money recklessly on cutouts and banners.

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"An awareness will go in Mosques of the organisation against squandering of money in the name of cut-outs and unwanted banners in connection with the world cup," he said.