English football: match interruptions to allow Muslim players to break the Ramadan fast

With Ramadan expected to begin on Wednesday or Thursday, English football is once again preparing to adjust to the spiritual time of Muslim players. For almost a month, they will fast from dawn to sunset. In London, the time for breaking the fast will occur around 5:22 p.m., then 5:27 p.m. on the following days, a slot which coincides with certain matches played in the late afternoon or early evening. In this context, the Premier League and theEnglish Football League confirmed the renewal of a system now well established: very brief interruptions of play allowing Muslim players to break their fast. These breaks only concern certain weekend matches, in particular those scheduled for 5:30 p.m. on Saturday and 4:30 p.m. on Sunday.

Far from any improvisation, these stops are discussed in advance between the clubs, captains and referees. They only intervene during a natural moment in the game – throw-in, free kick or clearance – and cannot be assimilated to a tactical or collective break. The game never stops in the middle of the action, and the sporting balance remains fully preserved. This protocol has been in place since 2021. The first official interruption took place during a meeting between Leicester City and Crystal Palace, notably allowing Wesley Fofana and Cheikhou Kouyaté to break their fast during the match. Since then, these scenes have multiplied without causing controversy, becoming an almost ordinary element of the English footballing landscape.

Today, several Muslim players play at the highest level in England. Among the most emblematic are Mohamed Salah (Liverpool), William Saliba (Arsenal), Rayan Aït-Nouri (Wolves) and Amad Diallo (Manchester United). Their presence reminds us that Ramadan is neither an exception nor a marginal constraint, but a reality experienced by many players in professional football.

Through these sober and unstaged adjustments, English football sends a clear message: respect for religious beliefs is not incompatible with the demands of high-level sport. A silent standardization, but full of meaning, which shows that it is possible to articulate performance, diversity and dignity without making it a subject of tension.