The English Premier League has announced that it will again allow short in-game breaks during matches throughout the holy month of Ramadan to enable Muslim players and officials to break their fast. The arrangement will begin this week as Ramadan starts and continue for the entire month. Team captains and match officials will jointly decide before each game whether a break is needed and at what point it should occur.

The designated time for iftar will not be treated as a tactical timeout or a regular water break. Matches will not be stopped mid-play, but a short pause will be allowed at the first natural stoppage, such as a goal kick, free kick, or throw-in, near sunset. In the United Kingdom, sunset during Ramadan is expected between 5:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. GMT, so matches starting around 4:30 p.m. or 5:30 p.m. will include this brief pause.

This practice was first introduced in 2021, when Leicester City and Crystal Palace players were allowed to break their fast during a match, marking the beginning of this inclusive initiative.