"France's Abstention of Muslim Player from Ramadan Fasting Sparks Outcry”

France follows secularism, which means that all religions are equal before the law in order to maintain neutrality. However, the constitution still grants individuals the right to observe their religious beliefs. As part of its secular nature, France does not fund religious institutions or organizations, emphasizing neutrality among people irrespective of their beliefs or religion. To balance secularism and constitutional rights to religious freedom, several debates and controversies have emerged with regard to Muslim religious practices. Recently, the French football federation caused an outcry by abstaining Muslim football players from observing their

 fast during the holy month of Ramadan. The decision was deemed heinous, as players were told to postpone their fasting during the five-day selection for the EURO 2024 qualifier against Netherlands and Ireland. The federation defended its decision, stating that football fields were not places to perform religious practices and that it would defend the fundamental values and status of the French republic at all costs, such as protecting people's dignity from any political or religious beliefs and practices. The decision received a lot of criticism on social media. Please let me know if I can assist with anything else.