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  "path": "/sport/football/simon-jordan-defends-fans-racism-premier-league",
  "publishedAt": "2026-03-04T20:22:13.000Z",
  "site": "https://www.gbnews.com",
  "tags": [
    "Harry Maguire has court conviction upheld after six-year battle to clear his name",
    "Football's most-controversial tactics as Arsenal come under fire for corner strategy",
    "Premier League confirms 18 new kick-off dates as Man City vs Arsenal title decider announced",
    "The GB News Editorial Charter"
  ],
  "textContent": "\n\n\n\nSimon Jordan has defended Leeds United supporters who booed and jeered during a Ramadan fast-breaking pause in last weekend's Premier League fixture against Manchester City.\n\nThe pundit suggested that bewilderment over a possible tactical benefit for the visitors, rather than racist intent, may have been behind the hostile reaction from sections of the Elland Road crowd.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nThree Muslim players, Rayan Cherki, Omar Marmoush, and Rayan Ait-Nouri, consumed water and energy gels following referee Peter Bankes' whistle in the 12th minute, adhering to league guidelines.\n\nElectronic messages around the stadium had explained the reason for the brief stoppage, yet audible booing persisted.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nTRENDING\n\nStories\n\nVideos\n\nYour Say\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nSpeaking on TalkSPORT, Jordan said: \"The default setting will be that it is centred on discrimination and racism rather than intolerance of the game being stopped by what's considered to be the opposition.\n\n\"If there were Muslim players in the Leeds side and they had been part of a fasting break, would they have booed them?\n\n\"There's a conclusion drawn by the usual suspects that this is racism and can only be that. Rather than an intolerance to something, the opposition might be benefiting from rather than the home side.\n\n\"So that might form part of the motivation. Only in the minds of the Leeds fans that booed do we know the motivation, and all the usual suspects will seek to say, 'A-ha, alive and kicking. we've got a big problem over here.' And it might be that, and it might be something different.\"\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nJordan added: \"The balancing act in my mind - is there a necessity to break a game? Can we not wait until half-time? If these players are fit enough to start a game. I understand the dynamics of not disrespecting any religion\".\n\nFormer Arsenal midfielder Emmanuel Petit expressed his revulsion at the supporters' conduct during an earlier segment of the broadcast.\n\nWhen Jordan put forward his theory, Petit questioned the length of the interruption.\n\nPresenter Jim White, who had previously outlined why the break needed to occur near sunset for player welfare reasons, confirmed it lasted approximately 30 seconds.\n\n### LATEST SPORT NEWS\n\n\n\n\n  * Harry Maguire has court conviction upheld after six-year battle to clear his name\n  * Football's most-controversial tactics as Arsenal come under fire for corner strategy\n  * Premier League confirms 18 new kick-off dates as Man City vs Arsenal title decider announced\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nPetit responded by noting that VAR reviews frequently extend to six or seven minutes.\n\nJordan made clear that he personally did not condone the booing.\n\nFollowing the match, Leeds boss Daniel Farke echoed a similar sentiment, indicating he believed the fans may have misunderstood the situation.\n\nFarke said: \"I'm not sure that everyone was aware, we had the topic of Pep bringing players in to give a team talk, I think supporters thought it was this.\"\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nHe added: \"I don't think booing was for this. If it was from some people about this, then that's not acceptable.\"\n\nPep Guardiola urged football fans to \"respect religion and diversity\" following the game.\n\nThe Manchester City boss said: \"It is a modern world, right? [You see] what is happening in the world today. Respect religion, diversity, that is the point.\"\n\nCity secured a narrow 1-0 victory at Elland Road, with Antoine Semenyo netting the decisive goal during first-half stoppage time.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n**Our Standards:The GB News Editorial Charter**",
  "title": "Simon Jordan defends fans accused of racism for booing Premier League game halted for Muslim players"
}