Surat Police Commissioner RMS Brar issued a notification to this effect on Saturday and said that strict action would be taken against those who violate it. The order comes after members of the minority community made a strong representation to him on this issue.

“We have issued a notification and also requested all the mega stores in the city to stop the sale of these balls as it would hurt the feelings of the Muslim community. Police personnel visited all the mega stores and malls in the city and informed the concerned persons not to sell such balls,” Brar told Express Newsline.

On Friday night, a large number of Muslims visited the Dhiraj Sons Mega Mall in Athwalines area to buy the entire stock of footballs available there, fearing its sale would hurt the religious sentiments of the community.

“We have called the shop owner of Dhiraj Son’s and will find out from where he had brought the football consignment. We will take strict action against those who violate this notification. We have also urged the people of the community to maintain peace and not to take out any demonstrations,” Brar added.

The national flag of Saudi Arabia has the inscription of the first Kalma of Islam on it. The Kalma says: “There is no God but Allah and Muhammad is His Prophet.” The members of the community say that a ball with this inscription cannot be allowed to be kicked.

The sale of such footballs came to light when one Ismail Sheikh visited the mall with his family for shopping. “I purchased one ball carrying the flags of different countries, including that of Saudi Arabia. The flag has the inscription of the first Kalma. I rushed to our maulana and showed him the ball,” said Ismail.

According to him, the maulala was shocked to see the holy verses printed on the ball and asked him to tell his friends to rush to the mall to buy all footballs from there. The next morning, community members gathered outside government offices in Nanpura and handed over a memorandum to Surat District Collector Dilip Rawal and Police Commissioner Brar. Some of the leaders also went to the shop owner and requested not to sell such balls as it would hurt their sentiments.

President of the religious body, Mohaddis-e-Azam Mission Mohammed Ilmuddin Ashrafi said, " We have requested the government officials to stop the sale of the ball and inquire into this matter. We have also informed our branch heads across Gujarat to check out whether such types of balls are sold in their areas also."