Description
This paper explores the intersection of football and Islam, looking especially at European contexts, and with particular focus on the experiences of Muslim footballers in the UK. By examining the stories of UK Premier League player Cheikhou Kouyaté and amateur footballer Yasmin Abdullahi in London, the paper investigates how these individuals navigate their Muslim identities in the context of their sporting careers. The paper reflects on the broader cultural and societal implications of Muslimness in football, considering how both Muslims and non-Muslims contribute to defining Islamic spaces within the sport. The research also touches on the evolving perceptions of Islam in the media and public spaces, and how football clubs and organisations have become more inclusive of religious practices. This discussion extends to the role of football in identity formation and its potential for both empowerment and social change, particularly in light of migration and integration issues in contemporary society.
Table of Contents
A Floating Muslimness
Links between Football and Religion
The Context and the Tactics
A Footballers’ Islam
First Half – Producing Islam On and Off the Pitch
Second Half – Defining Spaces of Muslimness
The Final Whistle – The Kick-off Time
Bibliography
About the Authors
Publication Information
Aga Khan University Institute for the Study of Muslim Civilisations
Series
Abdou Filali-Ansary Occasional Paper Series
Volume
10
ISBN
ISSN 2633 - 8890
Keywords
Muslim footballers, Islam and sport, Muslim identity, Religion and football, Religious practices in football, Integration and migration, Football and social change, Football clubs and religious accommodat
Recommended Citation
Stenberg, Leif, Ridha Sheikh and Esen Kaya (2025), ‘Being Muslim in European Football: Defining Spaces of Muslimness’. Abdou Filali-Ansary Occasional Paper Series. No. 10
Included in
Islamic Studies Commons, Migration Studies Commons, Race and Ethnicity Commons, Social and Cultural Anthropology Commons, Sociology of Religion Commons, Sports Studies Commons