By Azeez Sulaiman
The Premier League and the English Football League (EFL) will introduce brief pauses during matches throughout Ramadan to allow Muslim players and match officials break their fast after sunset.
Newsmen reported that the arrangement will take effect as Ramadan begins this week and runs for about one month.
Sunset in the United Kingdom is expected between 17:00 and 19:00 GMT during the period. As a result, only Saturday fixtures scheduled for 17:30 and Sunday matches kicking off at 16:30 are likely to require the stoppage.
Under this procedure, play will not be halted during active passages. Instead, the referee will allow a short pause at the earliest convenient moment, such as a goal-kick, free-kick or throw-in, to enable affected players take fluids or energy supplements. Teams and match officials are also expected to agree on the timing before kick-off.
The policy was first implemented in April 2021 when a Premier League match between Leicester City and Crystal Palace was paused around the half-hour mark at a goal-kick to allow Wesley Fofana and Cheikhou Kouyate hydrate shortly after sunset.
Ramadan fasting is one of the five pillars of Islam and requires Muslims to abstain from food and drink during daylight hours.