Malappuram (Kerala), Jun 20 (PTI) Abdul Samad Pookkottur, a leader of the prominent Islamic youth organisation SYS, has criticised the practice of spending money on flex boards and cut-outs in Kerala during the ongoing FIFA World Cup.
Pookkottur, state secretary of the Sunni Yuvajana Sangham (SYS), made the remarks while addressing a gathering here recently.
Videos of his speech have since been widely circulated on social media platforms.
He said even people who would not donate Rs 10 to a mosque were spending large amounts on flex boards supporting football teams and players.
He also claimed that such practices do not even exist in European countries participating in the World Cup.
“If you have money in your hands, it should not be spent on such things. If Allah has given you even Rs 10, it should be given to the poor,” he said.
Pookkottur claimed that some of those putting up flex boards came from financially struggling families.
“They have three or four daughters or sisters to get married. Their property deeds are mortgaged. Yet they spend money earned through daily wage labour to put up flex boards,” he said.
He said there should be limits to such celebrations and that education should take priority over watching football.
“Even people who do not wake up for morning prayers will wake up at 3 am if there is a match to watch. I am not saying that it is wrong. But they find it difficult to wake up for an act of worship,” he said.
Pookkottur urged youngsters and children not to spend large sums of money on flex boards and cut-outs of football stars and teams.
His remarks come at a time when football fever has gripped Kerala following the start of the FIFA World Cup, with fans across the state erecting giant flex boards and cut-outs in support of their favourite teams and players. PTI TBA TBA KH
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