The Premier League and the English Football League (EFL) will once again pause selected fixtures during Ramadan, allowing Muslim players and match officials a brief window to break their fast at sunset.

Ramadan begins this week and lasts for a month, during which Muslims abstain from food and drink from dawn to sunset as an act of worship and reflection.

In the United Kingdom, sunset will fall between roughly 17:00 and 19:00 GMT across the period, meaning only certain late afternoon and early evening kick-offs are likely to be affected.

Saturday’s 17:30 GMT fixtures and Sunday’s 16:30 GMT matches could include short pauses, provided the timing aligns with sunset.

As in previous seasons, captains and referees will identify a natural stoppage in play, such as a goal-kick, free-kick or throw-in, to allow those observing the fast to take on fluids or energy supplements. Play will not be halted in the middle of active passages.

Clubs and match officials are expected to hold discussions before kick-off to determine whether a pause will be required and, if so, roughly when it might occur.

The practice was formally introduced in 2021, with the first in-game break taking place during a clash between Leicester City and Crystal Palace. The match was paused at a goal-kick around the half-hour mark to allow Wesley Fofana and Cheikhou Kouyate to replenish with drinks and energy gels.

Since then, the arrangement has become a familiar and widely supported feature of English football’s calendar.

Several high-profile players observing Ramadan compete in the top flight, including Mohamed Salah, William Saliba, Rayan Ait-Nouri and Amad Diallo.

Former Everton midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure praised the league’s approach in 2023.

“In the Premier League, you are free to do whatever suits you. They will never do anything against your faith and this is great,” he told BBC Sport.

“I fast every day, I don’t miss any day. It has become normal and very easy for me. Training is still the same during Ramadan but when we go [for away matches], we might need to eat later than the others so the chef prepares food for us, making sure everything is in place as at home. We get halal food so there are no problems,” Doucoure added.

In 2022, former Liverpool forward Sadio Mane also revealed that his club adjusted training schedules during Ramadan to support Muslim players.