Footballer Mo Salah injured his shoulder in the Champions League final because he broke his Ramadan fast for the match, an Islamic preacher has claimed.
The Liverpool star sprained his shoulder in a tussle with Real Madrid's Sergio Ramos about 31 minutes into the game, which the Reds went on to lose 3-1.
Kuwaiti preacher Mubarak al-Bathali the next day claimed in a tweet that 'God punished him' for eating before the match during the Holy month.
He said that although Muslims are allowed to stop fasting for travel, eating so he could play in the final was 'not a legitimate excuse' and Salah had sinned.
Al-Bathali said Salah intended to break his fast for the match, rather than because he was travelling from Britain to Ukraine, and his intention was what mattered.
Liverpool physiotherapist Ruben Pons earlier confirmed Salah would break his fast for the match after discussions with a nutritionist.
'Tomorrow and the day of the match he won't [fast], so it's not going to affect him,' he told Spanish radio station Cadena SER last Thursday.
Al-Bathali said Salah, 25, was given bad advice and 'unfortunately, [he will] bear the burden' for it.
The Egyptian forward's injury put him in doubt for the World Cup in Russia beginning June 14, which the preacher said would remind him everything happens by God's will.
'Do not think the Muslim believes that life is managed by reason and effort, but life is the hand of God comes to whom he will, whether hard or not diligent,' he said.
'Perhaps [the injury] is good for you.'
Egypt on Wednesday said Salah would be fit to play in some of the World Cup, as his absence 'God willing, will not exceed the absence of three weeks'.
However, Al-Bathali said Salah was a 'virtuous, good and respected man' who was an ambassador for Muslims and was helping improve their image in the West.
He praised him for continuing to observe other Muslim requirements, like walking away from his teammates when they drank alcohol.
'Do not grieve, the door of repentance is open,' he said.
Masiziani_Timmy828
206
this is the only reason i hate Such traditions....instead of Supporting him like other Africans they are going around talking bullshit,irritional and irrelevant news..we should support him for a quick recovery.. because it's so interesting when they are so many players making headlines at the World Cup...just like the 2010 World Cup in South Africa it was so interesting because many players like Villa,Torres,Miller,Forlan and others were making it amazing....thumbs up for a quick Mo.Salah recovery
stoneheart58
186
This Cleric could be right. Fasting won't affect Salah performance that day. The impact of abstaining from eating and drinking during the final will have only a little impact on his performance, perhaps he would have scored had it been he fasted because for example if I fast I feel as if I am healthier during Ramadan and trust me it's true. Am not just saying this based on sentiments but judging by my personal experience.
vewbdemst
133
Does that mean ramos is God?
BAPPSPAULO
119
to err is human come back better than you ever were to lead Egypt to a good stage in the World Cup
FaRash
15
It's really ridiculous to say something like that. These are the ignorant preachers who spread hates among human and talk non sense. These guys wore a particular attire/look and Start fooling and frightening people on the name of God. This is true for every religion. They don't know how to be adaptive for spreading love and peace. They use their narrow knowledge/brain to say illogical and non sense. If you analyze today's world's problem/war etc, you will find the root causes people like these who act and behave like parrot.