fasting for Yom Kippur- Corriere.it

Not just Ramadan. The month of fasting for Muslims (which next year will fall between March and April), also respected by many footballers, is not the only religious precept that imposes fasting. These days it also occurs Yom Kippur, one of the most important holidays for the Jewish religion, a day dedicated to penance and considered the holiest and most solemn Jewish day of the year in which sins are atoned. Started yesterday, the third match of the Bianconeri’s Champions League group will end at sunset today, an hour and a half before the kick-off of Maccabi Haifa-Juventus.

For this reason, several players from the Israeli team may not be available, as confirmed from the same technician (who observes fasting) Barak Bakhar: Some players will respect it too, but I don’t rule out that there are those who want to play anyway. This is an important anniversary for Judaism that will end an hour and a half before the match begins and maybe someone will still be able to feed themselves sufficiently. In any case – he concludes – whoever takes the field will be ready, we have a large roster and will be able to rely on foreigners who do not follow the Jewish religion. One of the most at risk is the top scorer of the Maccabi, Omer Atzili29-year-old winger who arrived in Haifa in January 2021. Captain Lavi, the other midfielder Haziza and striker David are also in doubt.

Maccabi is not the only team that has to face this concomitance. Celtic, who will face Leipzig, for example, for the same reason will not be able to count on Liel Abada, 21-year-old Israeli right winger who has so far scored 6 goals and an assist in 8 games played in the Scottish Premiership. Abada had already missed last year the Europa League match with Betis Sevilla (lost 4-3 by the Scots) which, in fact, proved to be decisive in the failure to qualify for the round of 32.