Ramadan: Premier League to pause matches so Muslim players can break

The Premier League and English Football League will resume their procedures for Ramadan, with matches pausing briefly to allow Muslim players to break their fast.

According to BBC Sport, Ramadan, the Islamic holy month in which Muslims fast from dawn to sunset, begins this week and will continue nearly a month.

With sunset in the UK often happening between 17:00 and 19:00 GMT during this time, the only fixtures likely to see a pause are Saturday 17:30 kick-offs and Sunday 16:30 kick-offs.

The EPL explained how the breaks will work: “Play will not stop while matches are in mid-flow. Instead, at the earliest convenient moment, such as a goal-kick, free-kick, or throw-in, players and officials observing Ramadan can take a brief pause to hydrate and replenish energy.”

The procedure has been in place since April 2021, when a match between Leicester City and Crystal Palace was paused at a goal-kick so Muslim players could break their fast.

The measure allowed Leicester’s Wesley Fofana and Palace’s Cheikhou Kouyate to hydrate and consume energy gels shortly after sunset.

Clubs and match officials discuss the stoppage before each relevant match, agreeing on whether it will be required and roughly when it should happen.

The aim is to balance the flow of the game with respect for religious observance.

“We want to make sure players can perform at their best while observing their faith. “These breaks are designed to be practical, brief, and respectful,” EPL said.