Ramadan Break Causes Booing at Elland Road
During Saturday's Premier League match between Leeds United and Manchester City at Elland Road, a brief stoppage in play was met with boos from some supporters. The pause, which occurred in the 13th minute of the 17:30 GMT kickoff, was to allow players observing Ramadan to break their fast.
A message was displayed on the stadium's big screen explaining the reason for the stoppage: "As tonight's match takes place inside the holy month of Ramadan, play has been paused briefly to allow players to break their fast." Both teams' players came to the side of the pitch to take on fluids during this break.
Muslim Players Involved and Club Response
Manchester City fielded three Muslim players in their starting lineup: Rayan Cherki, Rayan Ait-Nouri, and Omar Marmoush, with Abdukodir Khusanov on the bench. has reached out to Leeds United for comment regarding the incident.
Leeds assistant manager Edmund Riemer addressed the booing in a Sky Sports interview:
"I'm focused on the game so I don't really hear it, but disappointed with some supporters that that happened."
Manchester City secured a 1-0 victory thanks to Antoine Semenyo's goal scored during first-half stoppage time.
Context of Ramadan and Match Scheduling
Ramadan, during which Muslims abstain from food and drink from dawn until sunset, began on the evening of 17 February and continues for a month. In the UK, sunset times during this period range from approximately 17:00 to 19:00, meaning only matches with kickoffs around these times can accommodate a break for fasting players.
This includes Saturday's 17:30 kickoff and Sunday's 16:30 kickoff between Arsenal and Chelsea. The stoppage at Elland Road was thus scheduled to coincide with sunset to allow players to break their fast.
Manager and Organization Statements
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola commented on the situation:
"We took on a little bit of vitamins because [Rayan] Cherki, [Rayan] Ait-Nouri did not eat today.
It is a modern world, right? [You see] what is happening in the world today. Respect religion, diversity, that is the point.
The Premier League says you can have one or two minutes, you can have for the [fasting] players to do it [break their fast]. It is what it is, unfortunately."
Anti-discrimination group Kick It Out expressed disappointment over the booing:
"Pausing the game to allow Muslim players to break their fast during Ramadan has been an agreed protocol for several years now.
It's an important and visible part of making the game welcoming for Muslim players and communities.
But as tonight's reaction shows, football still has a long way to go in terms of education and acceptance."
Background on Ramadan Break Protocol in Football
Club captains and match officials typically find a natural pause in the game to allow Muslim players or officials to break their fast. This protocol was formalized in 2021 to accommodate Muslim players during Premier League matches.
Former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson shared his perspective on BBC Radio 5 Live:
"I think it's very good for the players. We talk about the athletes and how fine-tuned they are at the moment.
To go that long without food and drink, it is vitally important that they have that break."
