I was reading this article on Muslim athletes in the World Cup dealing with Ramadan, when I came across this quotation from Sheikh Juma Momade, the South America representative for Kuwait's Ministry of Islamic Affairs:
“If the player believes he will experience a dip in form and this will degrade the performance of his work, he can choose to break the fast, but after the work is finished, he should compensate for the period of fasting.”
I am not a Muslim, but (years ago) I did athletics in high school during Ramadan with several Muslims, all of whom dilligently fasted. I've never heard of this loophole (and indeed, this question's answer implies that such fast breaking isn't permitted).
My question is: Is Sheikh Momade correctly asserting Islamic law when he says the athletes may break fasting? And, if yes, what are the rules for breaking this fast? When must compensation be done? Is it only permissible for athletes? Does it make a difference that the world cup athletes represent Islam on a global stage?