Montpellier manager says he took Mamadou Sakho off due to Ramadan-related cramps | OneFootball

From the French FA’s ban on breaking fast during games to Nantes manager Antoine Kombouaré sidelining a fasting player on matchday, Ligue 1’s handling of the month of Ramadan has made the headlines several times in the past few weeks – sparking heated debate within French football.

The latest episode came in the wake of Montpellier’s home defeat to Toulouse on Sunday afternoon. Manager Michel Der Zakarian – as reported by RMC – would indicate that he brought off defender Mamadou Sakho as the former PSG and Liverpool man was experiencing cramps in both calves due to dehydration, which he says were due to his fasting for Ramadan:

“He had cramps on his two calves. With Ramadan, the guys get dehydrated, and if they’re not well prepared in terms of food… It was hot, as well.”

On the match itself, Der Zakarian explained that his team were dominating in the first twenty minutes, but that afterwards his team showed some poor decision-making. He was also highly critical of Toulouse’s style of play, accusing the visitors of “cheating“.

This weekend’s defeat was Der Zakarian’s first in his second spell at the club, having returned at the start of February and ostensibly steered the 2012 champions clear of relegation, given they now sit 11 points clear of 17th-placed Strasbourg with eight games to go.

GFFN | Raphaël Jucobin