11.03.2025 22:20
The UEFA Champions League match between Barcelona and Benfica was mistakenly stopped twice for fasting players. The referee of the match, François Letexier, signaled for a break in the 7th minute, thinking it was time for iftar. However, thanks to the warning from our national player Orkun Kökçü, who plays for the Portuguese team, the French referee realized it was not yet time and called for another iftar break in the 15th minute.
In the second leg of the UEFA Champions League Round of 16, Barcelona faced Benfica, featuring our national football players Orkun Kökçü and Kerem Aktürkoğlu. Interesting moments occurred in the early minutes of the match.
REFEREE STOPPED THE MATCH EARLY, ORKUN WARNED
Along with Orkun and Kerem, Lamine Yamal from Barcelona started the match while fasting, and a decision was made to pause the game for fasting players before the match. Referee François Letexier stopped the game in the 7th minute for the fasting players. Later, Orkun Kökçü warned the French referee, stating that it was not yet time for iftar, and had the break postponed. Following this development, the match resumed.
SECOND IFTAR BREAK
Referee Letexier then stopped the game once again in the 15th minute. At this moment, our national players Orkun Kökçü and Kerem Aktürkoğlu, along with substitute Zeki Amdouni, Lamine Yamal from Barcelona, and Ansu Fati, who started on the bench, broke their fast on time.