Premier League Ramadan fasts, explained: Why matches will stop to allow players to break their fast

This time of year is important for many Premier League players, as quality performances in February and March can often make or break a team's season.

Yet for other reasons, it's also important for many players around the English top flight who are observing a religiously and spiritually special period of the year.

Late winter and early spring for the Northern hemisphere is the time for Ramadan, when those of the Muslim faith take stock of their lives and search for meaning in specific ways.

As a result, the Premier League is making special accommodations for those who observe, allowing those individuals a bit of space to compete in matches while at the slight disadvantage presented by the holiday's proceedings.

The Sporting News brings you an overview of what Ramadan is, how it affects Premier League players, and why certain games over the next month will pause briefly for those who observe to gain nourishment they have avoided throughout the day.

MORE: An updated list of Premier League top goal scorers for the 2025/26 season

When is Ramadan?

For the 2026 calendar year, Ramadan will begin on February 17 and run through March 19.

Because the holy month follows the moon cycle, it has to be confirmed each year, with the crescent moon spotted on the evening of February 17, officially beginning the holiday.

Some Premier League matches to pause during Ramadan

Matches which take place during sunset will be subject to a pause during a natural stoppage in play for those observing Ramadan to break their fast.

Professional athletes take pristine care of their bodies to keep themselves in peak physical condition, and thus a religious fast can be detrimental to their performance if not handled properly, since they are depriving themselves of energy sources throughout the fast.

Thus, the Premier League will briefly stop matches to allow players to ingest food and drink to give them the best chance of remaining at peak performance.

Only matches scheduled during the Saturday 5:30 p.m. local time window, and the Sunday 4:30 p.m. local time kickoff will be subject to this, as those games are situated over sunset. The games will not stop while the match is in flow, but will take a brief break during the earliest convenient moment once sunset occurs, such as during a goal kick, free kick, or throw-in.

What is Ramadan?

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar and is considered the holiest month for Muslims around the world. It is a time of fasting, prayer, self-reflection, and community, observed by nearly two billion Muslims.

Ramadan lasts for 29 or 30 days, depending on the sighting of the crescent moon, which marks its beginning and end.

The holiday holds deep religious and spiritual significance in Islam because it is believed to be the month when the first verses of the Quran were revealed to the Prophet Muhammad by the angel Jibril (Gabriel).

Why do Muslims fast during Ramadan?

One of the main aspects of Ramadan is fasting, known as sawm in Arabic.

Fasting from dawn to sunset is obligatory for all physically able Muslims. This includes refraining from eating, drinking, smoking, and engaging in sinful behavior. The following groups are exempt from fasting: Children who have not yet reached puberty; elderly individuals; pregnant, nursing, or menstruating women; the acutely and chronically ill; and travelers on long journeys.

The predawn meal is referred to as sahur, and the nightly feast that breaks the fast is called iftar.

Fasting is meant to be about more than just avoiding food and drink. It is also a way to practice self-control, humility, and empathy for the less fortunate. The spiritual rewards, or thawab, of fasting, are believed to be multiplied during Ramadan, and Muslims are supposed to focus on spiritual growth during Ramadan.