English football authorities have confirmed the return of Ramadan matchday procedures, with the Premier League and the English Football League set to allow brief pauses during games to enable Muslim players to break their fast.
Ramadan, a month-long period of fasting observed by Muslims from dawn to sunset, means abstaining from food and drink during daylight hours. In the United Kingdom, sunset during Ramadan typically falls between 17:00 and 19:00 GMT, meaning that only Saturday 17:30 kick-offs and Sunday 16:30 fixtures are likely to require a short stoppage.
As practiced in previous seasons, club captains and match officials will identify a natural break in play such as a goal-kick, free-kick, or throw-in to allow fasting players or officials to break their fast. Any pause will be agreed upon before kick-off, with an approximate time set in advance. Play will not be stopped during active passages of the game.
The first official Ramadan pause in English top-flight football occurred in April 2021 during a Premier League match between Leicester City and Crystal Palace. The game was briefly halted at a goal-kick around the half-hour mark, allowing Leicester’s Wesley Fofana and Palace’s Cheikhou Kouyate to take fluids and energy supplements.
Fasting during daylight hours in Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam and represents a core act of devotion. Several Muslim players currently competing in the Premier League include Mohamed Salah, William Saliba, Rayan Ait-Nouri and Amad Diallo, among others.
Speaking in 2023, former Everton midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure highlighted the league’s supportive approach.
“In the Premier League you are free to do whatever suits you. They will never do anything against your faith and this is great,” he said.
“I fast every day; I don’t miss any day. Training remains the same during Ramadan, but on away trips we may eat later than others, so the chef prepares food for us. We get halal meals, so there are no problems.”
Similarly, in 2022, former Liverpool forward Sadio Mane disclosed that the club adjusted training schedules to better support Muslim players observing Ramadan.
The continuation of these measures underscores English football’s commitment to inclusivity, ensuring that players can observe their religious obligations without compromising match integrity.
ELIJAH ADEYEMI
No comments:
Post a Comment