The Obligation of Covering the Awrah While Playing Soccer

Question:
Many young men play soccer in clubs and alleys, but they do not cover their awrah while playing. We ask you, Your Eminence, to direct a word to these young men to cover their awrah and adhere to the Islamic Shari'ah. May Allah reward you with good?

Answer:
It is obligatory for young men and others to cover their awrah and be cautious about exposing it, whether in soccer or otherwise. The awrah of a man is the area between the navel and the knee. A woman is entirely awrah in the presence of a non-mahram man. As for between women, it is like the man: what is above the navel and below the knee is not awrah between a woman and another woman.
Therefore, it is obligatory for men and women to cover their awrah. A man should not play soccer with his thigh exposed, or wearing transparent clothing. Rather, he must cover the entire thigh and what is below the navel. If the garment is long and hangs below the knee, that is more complete and safer. It is obligatory to pay attention to this matter, and the game should not be played during prayer times. Rather, it should be at a time when there is no prayer, so that prayer is not lost to playing soccer or other activities.
If playing leads to abandoning prayer, or to exposing the awrah, it is forbidden. Therefore, playing times must be proper times, away from work and prayer. Any play that leads to abandoning prayer, or to engaging in what Allah has forbidden, is thereby forbidden—may Allah keep us safe.