Two Saudi religious scholars say cheating in football is 'haram'

Manama, May 8(ANI): Two Saudi religious scholars have warned footballers against trying to fool referees to score goals or win penalties, and branded cheating in football as a sin and a disfigurement of moral ethics.

"Cheating is deceiving and usurping other people's rights and as such it is wrong. This is not allowed in Islam and it is haram," the Gulf News quoted Dr Abullah Al Motlaq and Shaikh Abdullah Al Maniaa, as saying.

"The wrongdoing is compounded when the player swears by God to support his lie. Players should avoid deceiving others, cheating and lying and should set good examples for young people," they added.

Al Maniaa further adds: "The use of negative attitudes to win a match is an ominous indication of the decline in moral values ??and the transformation of sports from a source of honest competition to bigotry and fanaticism."

Diving, doping and match fixing are considered the three biggest fields for cheating in football, which is game with huge amounts of money at wager. (ANI)