The Muslim Sports Foundation (MSF) was honoured to support The Football Association’s (FA) Eid celebration at Wembley Stadium, an event that marked a significant step towards inclusivity in English football.
The evening brought together over 700 guests from diverse backgrounds to celebrate Eid al-Fitr, highlighting the FA’s commitment to embracing cultural and religious diversity within the sport.
At MSF, our mission is to empower Muslim communities through sport, promoting physical activity and well-being in culturally appropriate environments. The FA’s initiative aligns seamlessly with our goals, demonstrating how football can serve as a unifying force across different communities.
MSF’s Head of Participation and Communities Asma Ajaz Ali was invited to present to the room about our progressive work in the community alongside Shimul Haider of Sport England. The presentation highlighted the achievements of Muslim athletes and the importance of creating inclusive spaces in sports. This platform allowed us to share stories that inspire and encourage participation from underrepresented groups.
A musical performance from Fursaan followed before a panel discussion featured former England striker Emile Heskey, Layla Banaras (Birmingham City FC), Marsha Malik (Solihull Moors), Iqra Ismail (Player, coach and project coordinator at QPR) and Osman Ahmed (England Para Football physio lead).
“It only takes one player to break through, which would open that door which would hopefully keep open and let everyone else go far,” said Heskey.
“We all love our faiths, it keeps us plugging away and pushing for what we believe is right within football because it’s our game.”
