Midfielder Mahamadou Diawara has departed France's under-19 squad according to reports.
The 19-year-old left upon discovering that the French Football Federation (FFF) has enforced new regulations prohibiting Muslim players from fasting during Ramadan while training with the national team.
According to ESPN, Diawara was uncomfortable with the new guidelines, which apply from the U16 level to France's senior team, and decided to leave and return to his club side, Lyon.
The FFF has confirmed Diawara's return to his club and has summoned Nantes' Dehmaine Tabibou Assoumani as his replacement.
Meanwhile, the FFF president Philippe Diallo has explained in an interview with French newspaper Le Figaro on Wednesday, March 20, that he has implemented new protocols regarding fasting for Ramadan while on France duty.
During the interview, Philippe cited a "principle of neutrality" in the organization's founding statutes and stated that the measures are in place to "ensure that religion does not interfere with an athlete."
The new FFF rules prohibit players called up by French national teams from fasting during Ramadan, instead requiring them to follow the teams' usual schedules.
According to Philippe, players observing Ramadan will have to make up for the fasting days they miss while training at the Clairefontaine training base at the end of the religious festival which ranges from March 10-11 to around April 10.
All French national team coaches, including U16 coach Lionel Rouxel and senior coach Didier Deschamps, are instructed to inform their players of the new regulations during the international break.
However, some of the players expressed dissatisfaction with the decision, citing concerns about religious respect and personal respect.
One of the agents representing several players of France's youth and senior sides whose name was not revealed, told ESPN that: "Some players are not happy with this decision."
"They believe that their religion is not respected and that they are not respected either. Some don't want to cause a fuss but Mahamadou was not happy with it so he left."
Last year, referees in other major leagues such as the EPL, Bundesliga, and Eredivisie were instructed to allow players to take a fast break during the holy month of Ramadan.
In contrast, The French Football Federation (FFF) did not allow fasting breaks during Ramadan for evening matches in the country's domestic leagues last year.
FFF's Federal Commissioner of Referees, Eric Borghini confirmed that officials have not been given any new directives this year.
He stated that if the situation arises again, a reminder will be sent out, as it would be unexpected for professionals to disregard this rule.
He said: "On the other hand, if we learn it's happening again, we'll do a reminder. As a pro, I'd be surprised if that happened."
Mahamadou Diawara is a 19-year-old midfielder who currently plays for Olympique Lyon after rising through the youth academies of Paris Saint-Germain.
Diawara has already made 11 appearances for Lyon's senior team since he joined as a central midfielder.
The 19-year-old left upon discovering that the French Football Federation (FFF) has enforced new regulations prohibiting Muslim players from fasting during Ramadan while training with the national team.
According to ESPN, Diawara was uncomfortable with the new guidelines, which apply from the U16 level to France's senior team, and decided to leave and return to his club side, Lyon.
The FFF has confirmed Diawara's return to his club and has summoned Nantes' Dehmaine Tabibou Assoumani as his replacement.
Meanwhile, the FFF president Philippe Diallo has explained in an interview with French newspaper Le Figaro on Wednesday, March 20, that he has implemented new protocols regarding fasting for Ramadan while on France duty.
During the interview, Philippe cited a "principle of neutrality" in the organization's founding statutes and stated that the measures are in place to "ensure that religion does not interfere with an athlete."
The new FFF rules prohibit players called up by French national teams from fasting during Ramadan, instead requiring them to follow the teams' usual schedules.
According to Philippe, players observing Ramadan will have to make up for the fasting days they miss while training at the Clairefontaine training base at the end of the religious festival which ranges from March 10-11 to around April 10.
All French national team coaches, including U16 coach Lionel Rouxel and senior coach Didier Deschamps, are instructed to inform their players of the new regulations during the international break.
However, some of the players expressed dissatisfaction with the decision, citing concerns about religious respect and personal respect.
One of the agents representing several players of France's youth and senior sides whose name was not revealed, told ESPN that: "Some players are not happy with this decision."
"They believe that their religion is not respected and that they are not respected either. Some don't want to cause a fuss but Mahamadou was not happy with it so he left."
Last year, referees in other major leagues such as the EPL, Bundesliga, and Eredivisie were instructed to allow players to take a fast break during the holy month of Ramadan.
In contrast, The French Football Federation (FFF) did not allow fasting breaks during Ramadan for evening matches in the country's domestic leagues last year.
FFF's Federal Commissioner of Referees, Eric Borghini confirmed that officials have not been given any new directives this year.
He stated that if the situation arises again, a reminder will be sent out, as it would be unexpected for professionals to disregard this rule.
He said: "On the other hand, if we learn it's happening again, we'll do a reminder. As a pro, I'd be surprised if that happened."
Mahamadou Diawara is a 19-year-old midfielder who currently plays for Olympique Lyon after rising through the youth academies of Paris Saint-Germain.
Diawara has already made 11 appearances for Lyon's senior team since he joined as a central midfielder.