A Liverpool fan has been lambasted on Twitter after posting a photo showing two Muslims praying in the stadium during the match half time, after fans rejected his comment as “bigoted”.
The fan, named as Stephen Dodd by the Sun, posted a picture on Twitter following the Reds' FA Cup quarter-final clash against Blackburn Rovers on Sunday.
Dodd wrote alongside the image, apparently taken in the area behind the turnstiles of the Main Stand at Anfield: “Muslims praying at half time at the match yesterday #DISGRACE.”
Dodd’s comments sparked social media
uproar, after fans quickly rounded upon and accused him of being a "bigot.”
Harryfre wrote: “How is that disgraceful in the slightest?”
RollsonShabbos accused Dodd of being a “raging bigot”, while another man asked: “Is this a joke? What did these guys do to harm anyone?”
Others pointed to the fact that Liverpool has two Muslim players within its squad, including Emre Can and Kolo Toure.
“Do you want to see Can and Kolo stop praying at beginning of each game too?” Marwan Elsaifi tweeted.
Twitter user LFCChris wrote underneath Dodd’s photo: “Only thing wrong here is that you support Liverpool.”
Paddy J Cawkwell added: “Respect to them, brother, can’t believe people think this is disgusting.”
Britain is home to a Muslim community of nearly 2.7 million, according to last census released by UK in 2013.
Muslims pray five times a day, with each prayer made of a series of postures and movements, each set of which is called a rak‘ah.
The five prayer times are divided all through the day which starts with Fajr prayer at dawn.
The Muslim existence on English football pitches dated back to 1992 Tottenham's Spanish midfielder Nayim was the only Muslim player in the league.
Seeking new talented players for the league, scouts brought new players from West Africa and Paris to become global stars.
The growing influx of Muslim players has been fuelled by the internationalization of football.
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