Premier League, EFL to continue Ramadan fast-break pauses during matches

The Premier League and the English Football League have agreed to continue allowing temporary pauses during matches throughout Ramadan to enable Muslim players and officials to break their fast.

The policy, which will take effect this week with the start of Ramadan, will remain in place for one month. During this period, match officials and team captains will coordinate in advance to determine whether a pause will be required and agree on the approximate timing.

Rather than interrupt active play, officials will wait for natural stoppages such as goal kicks, throw-ins, or free kicks before allowing the brief pause. This ensures the flow and fairness of the match are maintained while accommodating players observing the fast.

Only fixtures scheduled around sunset are expected to require the pause. Specifically, matches kicking off at 6:30 p.m. on Saturdays and 5:30 p.m. on Sundays fall within the timeframe when players may need to break their fast.

The initiative was first introduced in 2021 following a widely noted moment during a Premier League match involving Leicester City defender Wesley Fofana and Crystal Palace midfielder Cheikhou Kouyaté, who were allowed to briefly pause play to observe iftar.

Since then, the practice has been formalised as part of efforts to support religious inclusion across English football. Officials emphasise that the pauses are brief, carefully timed, and implemented without disrupting the integrity of the competition.

By maintaining the Ramadan pause policy, English football authorities are continuing measures aimed at ensuring Muslim players and match officials can observe their religious obligations while participating at the highest level of the sport.

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