In a massive show of support to Muslim players and officials, referees across the leagues in England have been asked to find natural pauses during evening games to allow players to break their fast.
The Premier League and other English leagues attract players from all over the world; some are Muslims who observe Ramadan.
In the past, several players have discussed playing matches while fasting and having to wait until the end of the games to break their fast.
However, that could be different this year as Sky Sports reports that officials have been given guidance on finding moments to pause games so players can break their fast before the evening matches continue.
Ramadan begins tomorrow and is set to last for around a month. The likes of Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah, Chelsea’s N’Golo Kante and Mohamed Elneny of Arsenal are just some high-profile Premier League stars who would be affected by this decision.
The report says the refs have been told to allow players to break their fast in the pauses with liquids, energy gels or supplements. They have also been urged to identify players who will need this break before the game starts and agree on when they will break during the fixture.
Ramadan starts Wednesday evening (March 22) until the evening of Friday, April 21. Muslims around the world fast and reflect.
Hopefully, the Premier League and the EFL will maintain this new development, which clearly shows respect for every player irrespective of their race or religion.
