Yuvajana Sangham (SYS) State secretary and prominent Muslim leader Abdussamad Pookkottur has sparked a debate with his criticism of what he called the excessive enthusiasm of Muslim youth during the ongoing FIFA World Cup.

Addressing a gathering at Mamburam near Tirurangadi on Friday (June 19, 2026), Mr. Pookkottur said the World Cup frenzy was particularly evident among Muslim youth in Malabar, especially in Malappuram district.

He criticised spending on giant flex boards, national flags, and cut-outs of football stars such as Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Neymar.

“The extravagance associated with the FIFA World Cup is highest among Muslim youth,” he said, adding that a similar craze was not seen in southern Kerala. He urged youngsters to prioritise their spending.

Mr. Pookkottur also criticised the practice of staying awake after midnight to watch matches, saying many youngsters would not make a similar effort to perform Thahajjud, the voluntary late-night prayer in Islam.

He further questioned the reluctance of some youth to contribute to local madrasas while spending money on football-related displays and celebrations.

Mr. Pookkottur also criticised the admiration shown towards certain participating countries, arguing that many Western nations continued to display racist and colonial attitudes. He alleged that discrimination against black people persisted and that those expressing solidarity with Palestinians often faced marginalisation.

“Why should you spend money to raise the flags of countries associated with racism and colonialism?” he asked.

Outrage over remarks

Clips of the speech circulated on social media drew criticism from football enthusiasts. Some questioned his remarks and sarcastically asked whether madrasas and mosques in Malappuram were funded by his family.

The controversy soon acquired a political dimension within Sunni circles. Some orthodox Sunni social media influencers contrasted Mr. Pookkottur’s remarks with the football-friendly image of the Panakkad Syed Shihab Thangal family, which is closely associated with the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML).

Mr. Pookkottur is known for his affiliation with the IUML led by Syed Sadikali Shihab Thangal. Both Mr. Sadikali Thangal and Muslim Youth League State president Syed Munawwarali Shihab Thangal are known for encouraging sports, particularly football.

Amid the online debate, a Sunni leader opposed to the IUML within the Samastha Kerala Jamiyyathul Ulama revived discussions about members of the Shihab Thangal family attending a FIFA World Cup match in Qatar, seeking to contrast their actions with Mr. Pookkottur’s criticism of football-related spending.