Premier League and EFL to pause play briefly so Muslim players can break fast during Ramadan
The Premier League and English Football League will again implement short in-game pauses during Ramadan to allow Muslim players and match officials to break their fast. The measures, used since 2021, are intended to provide hydration and quick nourishment at agreed moments without disrupting the flow of matches.
How the Ramadan breaks will work
Clubs, captains and match officials will discuss before kick-off whether a brief stoppage is needed and will agree an approximate moment for the pause. Play will not be halted while the game is in mid-flow; instead, the stoppage will be taken at the earliest convenient natural pause such as a goal-kick, free-kick or throw-in. Organisers have emphasised the break is for player welfare, not a tactical timeout or an additional team drinks break.
With sunset in the United Kingdom falling roughly between 12: 00 p. m. ET and 2: 00 p. m. ET during this period, the fixtures most likely to see a pause are Saturday kick-offs at 12: 30 p. m. ET and Sunday kick-offs at 11: 30 a. m. ET. The pause is expected to be brief — long enough for players to consume water, energy gels or small light refreshments before play resumes.
Which fixtures could be affected and the logistics
Only matches that finish after sunset in the UK will be candidates for a Ramadan pause, so evening fixtures that conclude post-sunset are the primary focus. Teams and referees will agree a rough timing ahead of the match and then identify a natural stoppage to execute the break. The process is designed to be seamless: decisions are collaborative and led by match captains alongside officials.
Clubs routinely make complementary arrangements to support fasting players, including tailoring meal schedules, providing halal food and adjusting travel or training timetables where necessary. Those operational steps aim to minimise any competitive disadvantage while prioritising health and religious observance.
History, player experience and reception
The protocol was first used in 2021 and has been reintroduced each Ramadan since. One early instance saw a match paused at a goal-kick to allow two players to rehydrate and replenish with energy gels. The initiative has been broadly welcomed by players, with former Everton midfielder Abdoulaye Doucouré noting in 2023 that he fasts every day during the month and that clubs generally accommodate religious needs — from training schedules to meals prepared on away trips.
High-profile Muslim players in the top divisions who may use the pause include Mohamed Salah, William Saliba, Rayan Ait-Nouri and Amad Diallo, among others. Clubs have also spoken publicly about adjusting training patterns in past seasons to help players maintain performance during Ramadan.
League officials stress the measure is about player welfare and religious inclusion while preserving the integrity of competition. With Ramadan set to run for a month, the in-game pauses will be used as needed on matchdays and tailored to the practical timing of each fixture.
Organisers say the approach allows elite football to continue uninterrupted while respecting the needs of Muslim players and match officials during one of the most important months in the Islamic calendar.
