Football star goes viral after ‘faking injury’ for Muslim teammates during Ramadan
Anthony Lopes appeared to deliberately feign an injury during Nantes’ Ligue 1 fixture against Le Havre on Sunday, enabling five of his Muslim teammates to break their Ramadan fast.
The former Portugal international collapsed to the ground near the halfway line despite no contact from any opposing player, with the ball having gone out for a throw-in.
As medical personnel rushed to treat what seemed to be a hamstring issue, five Nantes players sprinted to the sideline to consume food and water.
The goalkeeper subsequently got back up at a conspicuously unhurried pace, granting his fasting colleagues extra time to take on sustenance before play could restart.
The incident cleverly took advantage of a peculiarity in football regulations: when goalkeepers require medical attention, they may remain on the pitch, bringing the match to a complete standstill, whereas outfield players must leave the field for treatment so play can continue.
French football authorities have steadfastly declined to introduce religious intervals during matches, standing in stark contrast to other major European leagues.
The Premier League established an agreement in 2021 that permits Muslim players to break their fast once the sun has set.
Portuguese goalkeeper Anthony Lopes pretended to be injured during a Ligue 1 match so his Muslim teammates could break their fast during Ramadan.
Under the current rules of the Ligue de Football Professionnel and the French Football Federation (FFF), Ligue 1 matches are not… pic.twitter.com/F24kmHdCKu
— The New Arab (@The_NewArab) February 25, 2026
The Bundesliga implemented comparable measures the following year, offering similar support to observant players during the holy month.
France enforces stringent rules on religious expression, including a prohibition on the burqa, and football authorities have adopted a similar stance by refusing to accommodate breaks for religious observance.
The result carried significant weight for Nantes as they fight to retain their place in the top division.
Anthony Lopes has made 23 appearances for Nantes this season
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The club sits in 17th place in the 18-team league, positioning them in the relegation zone despite having identical points to Auxerre, who occupy 16th.
Just two goals in goal difference separate the two sides, with the bottom pair of clubs destined for demotion to the second tier.
Sunday’s 2-0 win over Le Havre delivered a crucial lift to their survival prospects.
Ramadan began on 17 February this year and runs until 19 March, with Muslims fasting during daylight hours as one of the five pillars of Islam.
Nantes beat Le Havre to boost their chances of staying in Ligue 1
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Football clubs throughout Europe have increasingly modified their routines to accommodate players observing the holy month, with former Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp adjusting training schedules at Anfield.
“It’s not easy because playing and training and doing Ramadan is not easy at all,” former Liverpool forward Sadio Mane told beIN SPORTS in 2022.
“But before Ramadan we tried to speak with the captain [Henderson] to tell the boss maybe can we change the schedule and train in the morning.”
Mane added that Liverpool collaborated closely with their nutritionist to lighten the burden on matchdays.
