Daniel Farke defends Leeds United crowd after Ramadan break booed in Man City clash | OneFootball

Daniel Farke condemned any intentional booing of the Ramadan break during Leeds United’s match with Manchester City, while suggesting confusion explained much of the reaction.

According to Leeds Live, boos were heard as players moved to the touchline on 13 minutes so Manchester City’s Muslim players could break their fast after sunset, despite an explanatory message on the big screen.

Some in the ground later alleged abusive remarks were made during the stoppage. Others believed Pep Guardiola had engineered a tactical pause similar to November’s reverse fixture, when Gianluigi Donnarumma went down and a pitchside team talk followed after a bright Leeds start.

Farke felt that earlier episode may have fuelled misunderstanding, saying many were surprised and unaware of the reason for the pause. He argued some fans thought City were repeating the first game’s ploy, but stressed that any genuinely disrespectful jeers were not acceptable. He also underlined the dressing room’s inclusivity across different passports and religions.

Kick It Out condemned the reaction as massively disappointing, highlighting the on-screen explanation and that Ramadan pauses have been an agreed protocol for several years. The organisation called the practice important in making the game welcoming for Muslim players and communities, and said football still has work to do on education and acceptance.

Source: Leeds Live