On Sunday (26), the Chelsea Foundation started an Open Iftar at Stamford Bridge, which is a first for the club and a Premier League stadium.
The event was announced earlier, as the club pledged to champion the first-ever open Iftar during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.
Open Iftar is the UK's largest community event during Ramadan, providing Muslims observing the fast with an opportunity to break it together, while also creating a safe environment for dialogue and engagement.
A number of local mosques and members of the Muslim community, including supporters and school students, were invited to attend the Open Iftar event alongside Chelsea FC staff.
The event was organised in collaboration with the Ramadan Tent Project, an award-winning charity established in 2013 with the aim of promoting community cohesion and enhancing understanding of Ramadan.
This year, the Ramadan Tent Project celebrated their 10th anniversary and continued to organise the annual Ramadan Festival – a yearly celebration of art, culture, and creativity inspired by the holy month of Ramadan.
Omar Salha, founder, and CEO of the Ramadan Tent Project, said, "For the past decade Ramadan Tent Project has connected and convened over half-a-million people from all backgrounds through its annual Ramadan Festival and flagship initiative Open Iftar.
"We are honoured to bring Open Iftar to Stamford Bridge, on the occasion of our 10-year anniversary and our 2023 theme of “Belonging”, and work in partnership with Chelsea FC who have been driving inclusivity in football. To such an extent, the “Pride of London” will be the first Premier League club in history to host an Open Iftar event.
"Football and Ramadan brings people together over shared experiences and we are thrilled to share this important celebration with football supporters from all backgrounds, representing a community of communities."
Ramadan is recognised at Chelsea FC and Chelsea Foundation as part of the No To Hate campaign, a club-wide programme dedicated to promoting equality, diversity, and inclusion and targeting hate and discrimination while educating stakeholders within and outside of Chelsea FC and football.
No To Hate's key focus area includes promoting religious tolerance, with other religious festivals highlighted throughout the year.
Simon Taylor, head of Chelsea Foundation, expressed his delight in announcing the Open Iftar event in collaboration with the Ramadan Tent Project.
Moglai Bap and Mo Chara of Kneecap perform at Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm in Pilton, Somerset, Britain, June 28, 2025. REUTERS/Jaimi Joy
Police may probe anti-Israel comments at Glastonbury
BRITISH police said they were considering whether to launch an investigation after performers at Glastonbury Festival made anti-Israel comments during their shows.
"We are aware of the comments made by acts on the West Holts Stage at Glastonbury Festival this afternoon," Avon and Somerset Police, in western England, said on X late on Saturday (28).
Irish hip-hop group Kneecap and punk duo Bob Vylan made anti-Israeli chants in separate shows on the West Holts stage on Saturday. One of the members of Bob Vylan chanted "Death, death, to the IDF" in a reference to the Israel Defense Forces.
"Video evidence will be assessed by officers to determine whether any offences may have been committed that would require a criminal investigation," the police statement said.
The Israeli Embassy in Britain said it was "deeply disturbed by the inflammatory and hateful rhetoric expressed on stage at the Glastonbury Festival".
Prime minister Keir Starmer said earlier this month it was "not appropriate" for Kneecap to appear at Glastonbury.
The band's frontman Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh was charged with a terrorism offence last month for allegedly displaying a flag in support of Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah at a concert in November. He has denied the charge.
A British government minister said it was appalling that the anti-Israel chants had been made at Glastonbury, and that the festival's organisers and the BBC broadcaster - which is showing the event - had questions to answer.
Health secretary Wes Streeting said he was also appalled by violence committed by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank.
"I'd also say to the Israeli Embassy, get your own house in order in terms of the conduct of your own citizens and the settlers in the West Bank," Streeting told Sky News.
"I wish they'd take the violence of their own citizens towards Palestinians more seriously," he said.
(Reuters)