Well, faking an injury can make even the best of players a villain in the footballing world at times. However, Tunisian goalkeeper Mouez Hassen has been winning hearts all over for exactly the same reason.
Hassen who has apparently been caught out feigning injury in his nation’s last two friendly matches – to allow a break in play, so that, his teammates can break their Ramadan fast owing to the sunset.
In the holy month of Ramadan, Muslims abstain from eating food and water for a longer part of the day. Moreover, they gather around with their families and friends – to feast on Iftar.
On the other side, and to ensure that his teammates also manage to break their fast, the Tunisian goalkeeper came up with a brilliant idea.
Fun fact:
Tunisian National team has played the last two friendlies while fasting. So, whenever the time comes to break Fast. The players have an agreement that the GK would go down so they can get a moment to drink some water and get something to eat ??#Ramadan #tunisia pic.twitter.com/4Rgz380ukW— Souhail Khmira (@SKhmira) June 2, 2018
The goalie appeared to have faked an injury, on two separate occasions. During the friendly against Portugal and while 2-1 down, Hassen appeared to injure himself in the 58th minute.
The break allowed his teammates to run over to the sidelines and break their fast. After drinking some water and eating a few dates, Tunisia went on to bag the equaliser as the game finished at the scoreline of 2-2.
The goalie then repeated his act against Turkey on Saturday too. In the 49th minute, he lied flat on his back while several Tunisian players ran over to the touchlines to grab some food. That game also ended in a 2-2 stalemate.
Meanwhile, the act has won over fans as they took to Twitter to praise him for the same:
https://twitter.com/LADC_Officiel/status/1003180373130534912?
— insvlanvs ?? (@27Brahimi) June 3, 2018
La tunisie aussi c laique mais c un match amical pas officiel donc il peuvent s arranger entre eux quand meme. Quand c la canicule dans un pays on s arrange aussi non? Ça a rien a voir avec la laïcité, c juste etre humain.
— Farid Farone (@FaridFarone) June 3, 2018
Responding to one such tweet, the goalkeeper Mouez Hassen joked to another footballer, “I was hurt, bro” followed by laughing emojis.
Tunisia will open their World Cup campaign against England in Volgograd on June 18, before taking on Belgium and Panama.