Source: Team_Talk
Grant could miss trip to Stoke
West Ham co-owner David Gold has admitted he would be prepared to allow Avram Grant to miss next week's clash at Stoke to observe Yom Kippur.[LNB] The Hammers' trip to the Britannia Stadium on September 18 clashes with the Day of Atonement - a key date in the Jewish calendar - and the Israeli could be given a leave of absence.[LNB]"It is difficult to stand in the way of religious conviction," Gold said. "Religion is a very personal thing and, much as I would like Avram to be at every game, I would respect his decision.[LNB]"It's like a player who wants to miss a game to be at the birth of his child - no matter how much his team-mates might need him on the pitch, it's hard to stand in his way of something which is so important in his personal life.[LNB]"It varies, from individual to individual, how important religion is to you and it's a question of degrees. If my grandparents were still alive, they would not have gone to a match on Yom Kippur.[LNB]"Personally, I believe it is possible to fulfil both your religious obligations and your work obligations, but it's not so easy to do both if you are absolutely devout.[LNB]"I don't know Avram well enough yet to say whether he must be at the game, but you can't make a judgement like this on behalf of someone else."
