Muslim players will be given the opportunity to break their fasts with liquids, energy gels and supplements during officially-sanctioned breaks of play in the Premier League and EFL during Ramadan.

Ramadan is the ninth month in the Islamic calendar, and is a month of fasting, prayer, and reflection celebrated by Muslims worldwide. Iftar, or the breaking of the fast, happens at sunset, and is typically a family or community gathering. Many players throughout English football observe the Islamic holy month, and evening matches affect their ability to break their fasts as the sun sets.

Over the next month, officials have been encouraged to identify any players that will need to break their fast prior to kick-off and choose a time during the match to accommodate that. This is the second consecutive year football will take official steps to support Muslim players during this time, and comes two years after a game between Leicester and Crystal Palace was paused to allow Wesley Fofana and Cheikhou Kouyate to observe iftar – a Premier League first.

Football has made considerable efforts to be more inclusive and reflective of the people that play it, with clubs also changing their training schedule during Ramadan to support players and their spiritual observations.

To learn more about Ramadan and the importance of faith to Muslim players, read our exclusive interview with Arnaut Danjuma here.