Friday, Jul 12, 2013

Dubai: Two of the first British Muslim footballers to play for clubs in England have credited the influx of overseas Muslim players with boosting understanding of their faith.

When Britain-born Pakistani brothers Rizwan and Zesh Rehman started out at Brentford and Fulham more than a decade ago, most clubs didn’t have prayer rooms, the pre-match meals weren’t halal and the man-of-the-match award was a bottle of champagne.

Fast forward ten years and the number of Muslim players in the English Premier League has increased by almost 40 per cent. Champagne has been replaced by a trophy, players kneel in prayer to celebrate and fans chant about the number of goals a player has scored since Ramadan.

Thanks to football, ignorance of Islam is waning and, according to the Rehman brothers, who run a foundation to introduce more British Asians into the game, that trend is filtering into mainstream society.

“When I was coming through at Brentford, I didn’t mention my religion,” said Riz, 30. “There was a lot of xenophobia then with the Twin Towers [9/11] coming down and the London bombings [in 2005].

“I didn’t dare ask for halal food and just stuck to vegetarian and I didn’t say when I was fasting because I didn’t want it to seem like an excuse. I didn’t want to be seen as being anything different,” added Riz, who since retiring from playing due to injury now lectures on Muslim sensitivities during Professional Football Association (PFA) coaching courses.

Zesh, 29, who was the first British Asian to start an English Premier League match and play in all four professional divisions, agreed, saying: “Clubs didn’t go out of their way to accommodate us, mainly due to the way we approached it. That’s being addressed now because there are more Muslim players coming into the professional game from abroad.

“Unfortunately when you say you are a Muslim, especially in the UK, it comes with a lot of negativity. But football is probably the only way you can ease tensions and raise awareness in a fun and enjoyable way.

“It’s watched by the masses and it sends out the perfect message when you have high-profile Muslim players and coaches saying they are good for the game. That filters right down to the man on the street,” added the former Bradford and QPR defender, who now plays for FC Kitchee in Hong Kong.

Of fasting during Ramadan, which has been viewed as the biggest cause for concern among coaches who want their players fit, Zesh added: “[Chelsea striker] Demba Ba fasts the whole month and still plays and scores. People will see it’s not that big an issue and that will trickle down the whole football pyramid.”

Riz said: “Muslim players from abroad are making the British Muslim community stand up and realise that, even if you are a Muslim, you can still make it as a footballer.”

It’s an encouraging trend but issues remain, such as the fact a British Muslim has yet to play for England and some Muslim players are expected to wear a shirt sponsored by a betting company.

Zesh said of the wait for an England cap: “We are in the third or fourth generation of British Asians who were born to parents who were born here. So now their mentality is 100 per cent British. But it will still take 10-15 years before a British Asian plays for England.

“I think it will be the fifth generation of British Asians, whose whole make-up, dynamic of their genes and mentality will be pure English.”

Of the shirt sponsorship debate, now famous because of Newcastle striker Papiss Cisse’s refusal to wear the logo of pay-day loan company Wonga, Riz said: “If a Muslim player wears that on his chest and it’s beamed across the whole world, I don’t think it would be a good move.

“Clubs have got a decision to make — sponsors bring in a lot of money, but players also cost millions. I don’t think betting advertisements have to stop but perhaps there could be an exception for a Muslim so he doesn’t have to wear it.”

There remains much to discuss before English football can consider itself fully in tune with Muslim sensitivities, but the next set of Rehman brothers will surely find it an easier game to enter.

By Ashley Hammond Staff Reporter

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