Article:
French goalkeeper Anthony Lopes sparked widespread attention on social media after making a clever move to help his Muslim teammates break their fast during a League 1 match between FC Nantes and Lorient. The match, which ended in a 2-0 win for FC Nantes, saw Lopes feign an injury in the 74th minute to allow his teammates to break their fast.
In a viral video on social media, Lopes can be seen suddenly collapsing on the ground and clutching his left hamstring. The medical staff rushed to his aid, and in the meantime, a few Muslim players from FC Nantes broke their fast with dates and water. It’s worth noting that French football authorities do not allow official breaks during matches based on religious grounds, making such instances rare.
Under football rules, players can receive medical attention on the field, but only goalkeepers are exempt from the rule that requires them to leave the field if they receive treatment. Lopes remained on the ground for a few minutes, allowing his teammates to break their fast. He eventually got up slowly, prolonging the break and allowing the match to resume.
The incident sparked a buzz on social media, with Pakistan boxer Umar Nazir tweeting that the win was dedicated to the martyrs of the Afghan war. The match was a crucial one for Pakistan, which needs a big win to reach the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup 2026.
In other cricket news, England defeated New Zealand by 4 wickets in the 49th match of the T20 World Cup 2026, securing a spot in the Super 8 stage. Pakistani fast bowler Salman Mirza said that in such conditions, spinners would have to be relied upon. England captain Harry Brook’s impressive century sparked a reaction from former Pakistani cricketers Wasim Akram and Ramiz Raja on social media.
Meanwhile, in other international news, Iran has launched a missile attack on the US forces in Jordan, targeting Saudi Arabia’s capital Riyadh. The UAE has confirmed that a Pakistani citizen was killed in the attack. Additionally, the Pakistani government has announced that flights arriving without prior notice will no longer be allowed to park at Karachi Airport. Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said that their military was prepared for the attack.
The tensions in the Middle East have led to a shortage of petroleum products in Pakistan. Israel has announced that it has targeted hundreds of Iranian military targets, including missile launchers, during its aerial strikes in western Iran.
