Fathwa - Is playing football considered an excuse that allows one to abandon fasting?

Question
Recently, many unconvincing Fataawa have emerged. For example, a Fatwa
allowed abandoning fasting in Ramadhaan forfootball players under the
pretext that they are on a national mission or that this is the source
of their sustenance. I hope you can clarify this matter. Is this
permissible? If this is impermissible, what is the ruling on he who
played and abandoned fasting on that day?
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the worlds. I testify
that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad,
is His slave and messenger.
Muslims should refer in anything that confuses them to the Book of
Allaah The Almighty and the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allaah, and
seek Fataawa from people who are known for their knowledge and
competency to issue Fataawa.
Concerning this matter, Allaah The Almighty Madeit permissible to
abandonfasting for he who has anexcuse like illness or travelling.
Allaah The Exalted Says (what means): {and whoever is ill or on a
journey - then an equal number of other days.} [Quran 2:185]
Merely playing football does not constitute an excuse that allows
abandoning fasting at all.Rather, those who engage in hard work
andhave no source of sustenance are not allowed to abandon fasting for
the sake of this permissible hard work except with certain
restrictions. The two Shaykhs,Ibn HameedandIbn Baazsaid: "Thosewho
engage in hard work are included under those who are assigned with
fasting and they arenot like patients and travelers. They should make
the intention at night and begin their fasting. Whoever among them is
obliged to break his fast during the day may break it with anything
that is adequate to his need. Then, he should stop eating and
drinking for the rest of the day and make up for this day afterwards.
Whoever has no urgent excuse should complete his fast. This is what is
deduced from theSharee'ah evidence of the Quran, the Sunnah and
statements of research scholars from all schools."
If this is the opinion of the people of knowledgewith regards to those
who engage in hard work, then how can players be allowed to abandon
fasting for merely playing? This constitutes fabricate false rulings
against the Sharee'ah with what its noble texts do not indicate. This
opinion deserves denunciation and rejection from whoever issued this
Fatwa.
Allaah Knows best.