The English Premier League and the English Football League (EFL) have once again confirmed the rules allowing short breaks in matches for Muslim players during Ramadan. The practice applies to all divisions—from the Premier League to League Two—and also applies to match referees, reports insideworldfootball.com.

This season, Ramadan will last from February 17 to March 18, 2026. Before each game, team captains and referees agree in advance whether a break is necessary and when it will be taken. The ball will not stop during active play; a pause is taken at the first suitable stoppage: a corner, a penalty kick, or a throw-in. Officials specifically emphasized that the pause cannot be used for tactical meetings, water breaks, or coaching instructions.

The first such stoppage was used in April 2021 during the Leicester City vs. Crystal Palace match. The game was abandoned around the 30th minute during a corner kick to allow Leicester's Wesley Fofana and Crystal Palace's Cheikhou Kouyaté to come to the touchline and receive fluids and energy gels. Since then, the procedure has become standard in English football.

Ramadan is a holy month in the Islamic calendar during which Muslims abstain from food, water, and negative habits from dawn to dusk, devoting time to prayer, reflection, and spiritual growth.