What is the ruling on watching the game of soccer, and likewise participating in playing it?
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The questioner : Regarding the spread of this game called soccer.
The Shaykh: Yes.
The questioner : Among the people, what is the ruling for the one who watches this match, let alone the one who plays it, I mean?
The Shaykh : Whether it is playing or watching, if all of that does not lead to violating the Shari'ah in any of its aspects, then it is permissible; because this game is not blameworthy in itself, like all games, but rather it is blameworthy if it distracts from the obedience of Allah (Mighty and Majestic). In that case, all forms of amusement are equal in their prohibition, because this is one of the established principles.
The Shaykh: Yes.
The questioner : Among the people, what is the ruling for the one who watches this match, let alone the one who plays it, I mean?
The Shaykh : Whether it is playing or watching, if all of that does not lead to violating the Shari'ah in any of its aspects, then it is permissible; because this game is not blameworthy in itself, like all games, but rather it is blameworthy if it distracts from the obedience of Allah (Mighty and Majestic). In that case, all forms of amusement are equal in their prohibition, because this is one of the established principles.
Source
www.al-albany.com
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.