Premier League, English football league approve Ramadan breaks for Muslim players
The Premier League and the English Football League have confirmed that games played during Ramadan will feature short, controlled pauses to allow Muslim players and match officials to break their fast at sunset.
Ramadan, the sacred month in Islam when adherents refrain from eating and drinking from dawn to dusk, begins this week and runs for roughly 30 days. Because sunset in the United Kingdom is expected to fall between about 5pm and 7pm GMT, only fixtures that start in the late afternoon or early evening are likely to require the stoppage.
League organisers explained that play will not be halted in the middle of active passages. Instead, the referee will wait for a natural break — such as a goal kick, free kick or throw-in — before permitting fasting participants to quickly take fluids or energy supplements.
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The practice is not new. It was first introduced in April 2021 when a meeting between Leicester City and Crystal Palace briefly stopped to allow Wesley Fofana and Cheikhou Kouyaté to hydrate moments after sunset.
Ahead of each fixture, clubs and match officials will agree on whether such a pause will be needed and estimate the likely timing, ensuring minimal disruption to the rhythm of the contest.
League authorities say the objective is to respect religious commitments while safeguarding the intensity and fairness of competition. The breaks are intended to be short, practical and handled with sensitivity.
A number of high-profile Muslim footballers could take advantage of the measure this month, including Mohamed Salah, William Saliba, Rayan Aït-Nouri, and Amad Diallo.
The initiative underlines the continuing effort within English football to accommodate faith practices without compromising match standards.
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