Liverpool won its sixth Champions League title on Saturday, June 1, as its two Muslim stars, Mohamed Salah, and Sadio Mane, abstained from food due to Ramadan fasting, Islamtics reported.
Salah, injured in last year’s final, slotted home an early penalty after Moussa Sissoko was adjudged to have handled the ball from a Sadio Mane cross.
“There is no problem with the fast of my players, I respect their religion, they were always wonderful and they offered the best whether they were fasting or not,” Liverpool manager, Jurgen Klopp, said during a press conference on Tottenham Hotspur in the Champions League final.
“There are days when Sadio Mane or Mohamed Salah came into the dressing room late because they were praying. In this life there are things more important than football,” the German tactician revealed.
According to prayer time, Maghreb or sundown in Madrid is on 9:39 pm while the match started at 20:30 GMT.
The fact that both players were fasting inspired many fans who celebrated Liverpool’s win on social media.
For the record, Mo Salah is fasting and playing over 90 minutes of soccer. What a guy.
— KG?? (@MillieeeGee) June 1, 2019
Mo Salaah for Ballon d’or??? @MoSalah
— Nurdin Mang’enya (@NurdeenMaldeen) June 1, 2019
Thank you well done King Salah ?
— Sonal Pai (@sonalpai) June 1, 2019
Liverpool’s two Muslim stars Salah and Mane won the 2019 Premier League Golden Boot with 22 goals apiece two weeks ago.
Both Salah and Mane are practicing Muslims and often pray at the Liverpool Mosque and Islamic Institute, a 20-minute drive from Anfield.
Ramadan is the holiest month in the Islamic calendar.
In Ramadan, adult Muslims, save the sick and those traveling, abstain from food, drink, smoking and sex between dawn and sunset.
Muslims dedicate their time during the holy month to be closer to Allah through prayers, self-restraint, and good deeds.