Pep Guardiola has criticised fans who booed during the Ramadan break in Manchester City’s clash against Leeds at Rolland Road. The Premier League clash was stopped for 78 seconds to allow Muslim players to break their fast. Fans at the stadium jeered as players broke their fast.

The incident happened during the 13th minute of the game. Play was stopped briefly around sunset and players walked to the touchline to break their fast which is observed during the month of Ramadan which Muslims consider holy. A message on the screen at the venue read: “Play has been paused briefly to allow players to break their fast”.

Pep tells fans to respect religion and diversity

Guardiola told fans to respect diversity and religion as he said that the break was within the rules and there should not be any issues with it.

“It is a modern world, right?” Guardiola said after City’s 1-0 win over Leeds. “What is happening in the world today. Respect religion, diversity, that is the point. The Premier League says you can have one or two minutes, you can have for the players to do it (break fast).”

“It is what it is, unfortunate. We took on a little bit of vitamins because [Rayan] Cherki, [Rayan] Aït-Nouri did not eat today. No more than that. The question is, can they do it or not? What is the problem?”

Leeds assistant manager Edmund Riemer, talking to the press in the absence of manager Daniel Farke who was sent off at full-time, said that the incident was disappointing.

“I [was] focussed on the game,” Riemer said. “Disappointed with some supporters and we learn from it.”

Kick It Out, the charity set up in 1993 to fight discrimination in football, called fans’ behaviour massively disappointing.

The charity wrote: “It’s massively disappointing that some Leeds United fans jeered when Manchester City’s players broke their fast during the first half of the match at Elland Road this evening.”

“…tonight’s reaction shows, football still has a long way to go in terms of education and acceptance. “