Premier League club, Chelsea held an open iftar for its local Muslim community on Sunday at its famous Stamford Bridge stadium.
The Premier League is currently on hold due to the international break, but that gave Chelsea an opportunity to host an historic event at its famous football stadium, celebrating Ramadan with an iftar event for the fans.
The London-based club became the first-ever Premier League franchise to host a Ramadan event.
Hundreds of Muslims from across the country gathered at the iconic stadium to break their fast with a traditional iftar meal as part of the holy month of Ramadan. The event was welcomed by the Muslim community who praised Chelsea FC for their efforts to foster inclusivity and diversity.
The holy month of Ramadan always brings people together despite religious or geo-political differences. Paul Canoville, who played over a hundred games in his five-year term with Chelsea between 1981 and 1986, and was also the first black player to play for the club, was a guest speaker at the event.
He gave a speech to the attendees as he said,
It means everything to me seeing that the community is together. That’s what football is all about – bringing people together. I didn’t know what to expect but it was an experience I’ve never come across and definitely one I’d like to do again.
Here are some exclusive clicks from the first-ever open iftar at Stamford Bridge.
For many, the iftar event by Chelsea marked a significant step towards greater acceptance and understanding of Islam in the UK, and a celebration of the country’s multiculturalism.
