The Premier League has announced that short pauses will once again be observed during matches throughout Ramadan to allow Muslim players break their fast at sunset.
The initiative, first introduced across English football in 2021, allows for a brief stoppage at a natural break in play, such as a goal-kick or throw-in.
The move has been widely praised by players, coaches and fans as a thoughtful and practical gesture during the holy month.
The first instance occurred in April 2021 during a fixture between Leicester City and Crystal Palace.
Play was temporarily halted around the half-hour mark at a goal-kick, enabling Leicester’s Wesley Fofana and Palace’s Cheikhou Kouyaté to take on fluids and energy supplements after fasting during daylight hours.
According to the league, the arrangement is intended to ensure that players can maintain peak performance while observing their religious obligations.
The stoppages are designed to be brief and seamless, without disrupting the flow of the game.
Ramadan is a sacred period for Muslims worldwide, marked by fasting from dawn to sunset, prayer and reflection.
For players involved in evening fixtures, breaking their fast at sunset is essential, making the short in-game pauses a necessary accommodation during the month.