English Premier League and English Football League officials have been told to be open to pausing play for players to break their fast during Ramadan, according to several reports in the UK.
A guideline has reportedly been issued to match officials so the players can break their fast with liquids, energy bars or supplements on the touchline whilst the game is paused. The month of Ramadan began on Wednesday, March 22.
Officials have also been encouraged to identify any players who may need to break their fast during the game before kick-off, and agree on a time for the same.
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Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah, Manchester City winger Riyad Mahrez and West Ham United forward Mohamed Saïd Benrahma are some of the Premier League stars who will be fasting during Ramadan.
In 2021, in an EPL match between Leicester City and Crystal Palace, referee Graham Scott halted the game after half an hour so that two Muslim players, Wesley Fofana and Cheikhou Kouyate, could break their fast.
On that occasion, Crystal Palace custodian Vicente Guiata had delayed his goal kick just after the 30-minute mark so that Fofana and Kouyate could consume energy gels on the sidelines.
Later, Fofana went on social media and thanked Guiata, Palace and the Premier League for letting him break his fast. "That's what makes football wonderful," he said.
