Ramadan 2022: How Premier League football is evolving to help Muslim players
Some Muslim players might break their fast during evening Premier League matches this Ramadan over the next few weeks.
Saturday marks the start of Ramadan for Muslims around the world, taking place for a month, ending with the celebration of Eid on 2 May.
Fasts in the UK this Ramadan will start between 04:00 and 05:00 BST and end between 19:30 and 20:30 as the month progresses.
This means of the 52 Premier League games scheduled to take place in Ramadan, there are nine evening matches in which players may need to break their fast during the game.
Last season in the meeting between Leicester City and Crystal Palace at the King Power Stadium, there was a pause in play to allow Foxes defender Wesley Fofana and Eagles midfielder Cheikhou Kouyate to do this.
The offering of prayers and reading of the Quran are increased during Ramadan, along with donating money to charity to replenish one’s spiritual wellbeing.
But the main focus is on fasting – abstaining from eating or drinking during daylight hours – which poses a challenge for Muslim professional footballers who tend to alter their training to cope with the rigours of the month.
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Last season, there was an informal agreement between captains to allow a brief break at a goal kick or throw-in so that any Muslim players who needed to were able to break their fast.
This season, although there has been no official guidance given to top-flight teams as it does not affect every game, captains can again request a drinks break at an appropriate moment in the game during their pre-match meeting with referees.
Once the sun has set, it will allow fasting players to come to the side of the pitch and quickly take on liquids or any energy supplements before resuming the game.
To gain a better understanding about the basics of Ramadan, members of the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) have been booked to undertake a workshop led by Nujum Sports on Friday.