The Premier League (EPL) and English Football League (EFL) have confirmed that select matches will include short pauses during Ramadan to allow Muslim players and match officials to break their fast after sunset.
Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting, begins this week and lasts about a month. With sunset in the UK typically between 17:00 and 19:00 GMT, only fixtures with kick-offs at Saturday 17:30 and Sunday 16:30 are likely to see these brief stoppages.
According to the EPL, “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 Leicester City vs. Crystal Palace match paused at a goal-kick so Muslim players could break their fast. Clubs and match officials discuss the stoppage in advance, agreeing on whether and roughly when it should happen to ensure both game flow and respect for religious observance.
Notable Muslim players who could benefit from the breaks include Mohamed Salah, William Saliba, Rayan Ait-Nouri, and Amad Diallo. The initiative highlights English football authorities’ efforts to accommodate religious practices while preserving the competitive integrity of matches.
