Jihadi Soccer - the Saudi Fatwa
Progressive Islam links to this fascinating Fatwa from Saudi on Soccer, a sport only permissible if played in training for Jihad.
It is, alleges Progressive Islam, based on a Hadith, or teaching of the prophet banning Muslims from imitating Christians and Jews.
Thus playing soccer “with four lines [surroundng the field] is out, as is terminology used by the “non-believer” eg ‘foul’, ‘penalty kick’ and “goal”. “Colorful pants” and “numbered jerseys” are also banned as are two play-halves (the options are one or three) of 45 minutes each, described as, “the length of time accepted in the soccer clubs of those who have strayed from the righteous path.”
In fact, the rules of international soccer are to be dispensed with altogether, which means there is no need for referees or that heinous sin of Western football “substitution.”
The whole point of playing is not winning or losing but rather to “improve physical fitness