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Salafist fatwa warns Egyptians not to watch World Cup, angering fans

The former head of the Salafist Nour Party instructed listeners not to watch World Cup matches.

Hagar Hosny
Hagar Hosny
Dec 3, 2022
MUSTAFA ABUMUNES/AFP via Getty Images
A fan carries a replica of the World Cup Trophy during the Lusail Super Cup football match between Saudi Arabia's Al-Hilal and Egypt's Zamalek at the Lusail Stadium on the outskirts of Qatar's capital Doha on Sept. 9, 2022. — MUSTAFA ABUMUNES/AFP via Getty Images

CAIRO — A Salafist sheikh in Egypt has banned watching soccer matches as the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 is in full swing.

The former head of the Salafist Nour Party, Younes Makhyoun, said in a Nov. 27 Facebook video that “watching the World Cup matches is a waste of time, and Muslims will be held accountable for the hours they wasted on the Day of Judgment.”

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