Match officials asked to pause evening matches for Muslim players across Premier League and EFL to break fast

To allow players to break their fast during Ramadan, referees in the Premier League and English Football League have been asked to pause evening matches, according to Sky Sports.
The holy period of Ramadan, which is the ninth month in the Islamic calendar, is set to start on Wednesday and will end on the evening of Friday, April 21.
Match officials have been advised to allow participants to break their fast consuming beverages, energy gels, or supplements on the sidelines during the pause in play.Referees have also been asked to identify players who would need to break their fast during the game before kickoff and, where feasible, agree on a rough time for this to occur.
Several Muslim players, including Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah, Chelsea midfielder N’Golo Kante and Manchester City winger Riyad Mahrez are among players who are expected to abstain from eating and drinking during daylight hours.
However, this is not the first time that matches in the Premier League have been paused for players to break their fast. Two years ago, Leicester City’s game against Crystal Palace was stopped to allow players to break their fast, and it is thought to be a Premier League first.
Meanwhile, the Chelsea Foundation on Sunday, March 26, will hold an unprecedented Open Iftar, along the side of the pitch at the iconic Stamford Bridge stadium, marking an exciting milestone for the club and the whole Premier League, according to the club’s official website.

Speaking about the same, Simon Taylor, head of the Chelsea Foundation, said: ‘I am delighted to announce our Open Iftar at Stamford Bridge and we are extremely proud to be the first Premier League club to do so. Recognizing Ramadan and our Muslim community is a key aspect of our work in promoting religious tolerance and I look forward to welcoming everyone on Sunday, March 26.’
(With Reuters inputs)