The Premier League returns for the 2022/23 season run-in on April 1, as the final 10 matchdays set up for a thrilling finale to the campaign.
The return to action will also include a new feature to the matches compared to weeks prior, as the Premier League have confirmed plans to allow for a special in-game stoppage to allow Muslim players to break fast during Ramadan.
In 2023, the Muslim holy month of Ramadan is observed between March 22 and April 21, an important period of spiritual self-reflection accompanied by fasting during daylight hours.
Premier League players observing Ramadan still carry on with training and playing. But in some cases, matches are taking place just as the daylight is giving way to night time, which is when those players can break their fast.
England's professional refereeing body, the PGMOL, have requested match officials find a natural pause during evening games to allow for a short break to allow players breaking fast to have something to eat and drink.
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Will Premier League matches stop during Ramadan 2023?
Premier League referees will allow for a short break during late kickoffs to allow for players who are fasting to stop and take in food and fluids before restarting the match.
Referees are asked to identify impacted players and coordinate an approximate time to pause the match.
This practice started in 2021, with Crystal Palace's clash with Leicester City paused to allow Wesley Fofana and Cheikhou Kouyate to break fast, under the direction of match referee Graham Scott.
Just wanted to thank the @premierleague as well as @CPFC , @vguaita13 all the Foxes for allowing me to break my fast tonight in the middle of the game. That's what makes football wonderful 🙏🏾✊🏾#WF3 #PourEux pic.twitter.com/d56o8A8ZGo
— LAWESTT (@Wesley_Fofanaa) April 26, 2021
That was followed by a break in Southampton's subsequent trip to Burnley, with other evening games in April incorporating a break, where applicable.
How long is Ramadan 2023?
The month of Ramadan runs for 30 days and will end on the evening of April 21.
However, with UK daylight hours extended beginning on March 26, that could impact the number of matches during which a player can break fast depending on match start times.
Within the current schedule, there are likely to be nine games that might see breaks, from Everton's home tie against Tottenham on April 3 through Arsenal's meeting with Southampton on April 21.
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Premier League players in Ramadan
Previous breaks have involved minimal interruption from the regular flow of matches, with referees utilising substitutions breaks and injuries as a natural opportunity to introduce the break.
In that moment, players who are breaking their fast can take the opportunity to eat an energy snack or gel and drink water before resuming the match.
Premier League stars including Mohamed Salah, N'Golo Kante and Riyad Mahrez are expected to avail of the Premier League ruling, as practising Muslims.
Everton trio Idrissa Gana Gueye, Abdoulaye Doucoure and Amadou Onana could be the first to break fast during a match in the 2022/23 season when the Toffees host Tottenham on April 3.
