EPL 2022/23 : Muslim footballers to get a window of time to break their Ramadan Fasts mid-game!
In a recent development, English Premier League have announced that they will accommodate a natural passage of pause for all the Muslim players during the holy period of Ramadan which starts from March 22. This one month period will be applied to not only the players but also the Muslim match officials.
Match referees has been handed with a guide which has stated everything about the period in detail. Players like Mohammad Salah, N’Golo Kante, Ilkay Gundogan, Riyadh Mahrez among other Muslim players will be seen breaking their fast mid-game
Alhamdulilah! It's great to see the Premier League giving official guidance for matches to be paused whilst Muslim footballers break their fasts during Ramadan.
Last year it was done out of courtesy & respect, but this year it is official guidance! Great to see this inclusivity. pic.twitter.com/9VaV0PQ2h3
— Muslim Hands UK (@muslimhandsuk) March 21, 2023
Every Muslim around the world will observe fasts in what is a month of self-reflection. Every player will not be eating anything during the day light and players will be seen breaking their fasts during the evening matches. It will be applied on each and every division of English football.
Things we love to see…
Muslim footballers, performing at the highest level, while fasting during Ramaḍān.
May Allāh bless them.#UnapologeticallyMuslim pic.twitter.com/IiO6IgXZUf
— • (@Alhamdhulillaah) April 30, 2021
The players will break their respective fasts after the sun set and the referees will pause the match to let the players complete their rituals.
This year, Ramadan will start on Wednesday evening (March 22) and last until the evening of Friday, April 21. It is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar and is celebrated by Muslims all over the world as a month of fasting, prayer and reflection.
How do Muslim footballers continue to perform at the top level during the holy month of Ramadan? pic.twitter.com/B4Ga4FbO8N
— TRT World (@trtworld) April 29, 2022
Players will in take energy bars or gels to end their fast and resume the game. The Football Association and Professional game match officials Ltd have been given the charge to take care the matter. In what is thought to have been a Premier League first, Sky Sports News revealed two years ago that Leicester City’s match with Crystal Palace had been halted mid-game to enable players to break their fast.
On that particular instance, Wesley Fofana and Cheikhou Kouyate’s Ramadan fast would be broken during play, as both clubs and referee Graham Scott had agreed prior to the game.
