Match officials from the Premier League and English Football League (EFL) have received guidance from the referees’ body in England to find a natural pause in play during evening matches to allow any Muslim player or match official to break their fast during the holy month of Ramadhan which is expected to start tomorrow.
There are quite a number of Muslims in the Premier League and other lower leagues in England with Liverpool’s Mohammed Salah, Chelsea’s N’golo Kante, and Manchester City’s Riyadh Mahrez the most prominent ones.
These and many other Muslim players across leagues in England are expected to observe fasting for at least 29 days and on some of these days will have football matches before, during,or after sunset, a period during which Muslims break their fast.
The break, the length of which will have to be agreed on by match officials and both opposing teams before kick-off will allow fasting Muslim players to break their fast by taking on liquids, energy gels or supplements at sunset before play can resume.
It should be noted that this is not the first time a short pause like this happened during a Premier League match for a Muslim player to break his fast. Wesley Fofana and Cheikhou Kouyate received such a break during the match between Leicester City and Crystal Palace when The Eagles’ goalkeeper Vicente Guiata delayed taking a goal kick so the two players could break their fast.
This move is welcomed by the Muslim community; players, officials and fans alike and shows the Premier League’s willingness to be an inclusive institution that respects all stakeholders involved.
