Muslim footballers in English Premiership

The football season starts today and as you may know unlike a number of glory seekers who support large football clubs simply because they are successful London Muslim is a passionate Queens Park Rangers supporter.

My previous post about QPR signing Adeel Taarabt the Muslim Moroccan international has prompted me to examine more closely what could be termed a major Muslim breakthrough in English football on a par with the breakthrough of those pioneering and outstanding black players Cyril Regis, Laurie Cunningham and Brendon Batson at WBA in the UK.

Muslim influence in English football now encompasses the boardroom, the players and of course the supporters not to forget the influence of sponsorship from the likes of Emirates & Etihad.

However, despite the growing Muslim influence there still remains a significant Islamophobic and hostile atmosphere in some stadiums towards Muslims. Historically one always found it strange to see black players on the pitch but relatively little black support on the terraces. Lets be honest when, if ever, did you see a Muslim with a Hijab at a football stadium?

One aspect of the huge combined Muslim investment from Khaldoon Al Mubarak at Man City, Mohammad Al Fayed at Fulham and the proposed Al Fahim buyout of Porstmouth should be an assault on the prejudices that still remain at these and other stadiums. Spurs fans embraced the anti Semitic attacks on their club by calling themselves "The Yid Army"

On the Pitch with outstanding Muslim players from Nicolas Anelka, Kolu Toure, Salomon Kalou, Samir Nasri, El Hajj Dioub, Diomansy Kamara, Zaki, Mido to name but a few a debate about the growing positive Muslim contribution to the beautifull game needs to start.

Football clubs need to look at their community outreach work. Virtually all clubs have a Christian chaplain do they have a Muslim Imam? My club QPR has a Christian evangelical as its chaplain is that appropriate and what signal does that send possible Muslim supporters about QPR's attitude?

Football clubs, who to be fair, are not specialists in faith are nevertheless businesses and need to be smarter in how and who they are engaging with. This does not mean being lazy and going to the MCB whose ignorance of football and London 2012 I've mentioned previously. Football clubs with Kick Racism out of Football (who do understand Football) need to work with their local not national Muslim community representatives.

Ramadan is coming up what plans do football clubs have to celebrate Eid for their players and supporters? How many Muslim charities do they support, what Halal provision is there at the stadium.

London Muslim urges all Muslim football supporters before you put on your replica shirts to ask yourselves what if anything your football club is doing to engage with you before they take your money. Unfortunately, despite the Muslim contribution on the pitch we as Muslim supporters are still second class citizens.


** Update** Demba Ba highlights importance of Muslims in Premiership
** Update 1 ** Alan Pardew to build Prayer room for Newcastle's Muslim players