The Ruling on Organizing Football Matches on the Nights of Ramadan

Question:
The questioner says: Some of the brothers organize football matches for the youth during the month of Ramadan, from after the tarawih prayers until the pre-dawn meal. We objected to him and said, "Ramadan is not for this." He said, "This is better than the youth staying up late for forbidden matters." What is the ruling on his action?

Answer:
Neither is permissible: neither playing sports nor staying up late. What is prescribed is to devote oneself to the worship of Allah, the remembrance of Allah, and the recitation of the Qur'an, or for a person to sleep and take his rest. As for engaging in idle talk, play, games, and sports, that is a deprivation of reward and a violation of the month. The month has sanctity and status; it should be honored and respected, and its times should be protected from such trifles. Yes. And sports have another time for permissible sports. As for forbidden sports that involve exposing the 'awrah, or contain noise, cursing, and insults, or something worse than that, such as delaying the prayer from its time or abandoning the congregational prayer, this sport is not permissible because it occupies one from performing the obligatory duties and also from the recommended practices. Yes. And Allah the Exalted knows best.