KNVB introduces drinking and eating breaks for fasting players during Ramadan

If the sun sets during an Eredivisie or First Division match next month, the referee can temporarily stop the game so that football players who participate in Ramadan can quickly eat and drink if desired.

This is being done at the initiative of the KNVB, which is following the example of the English Premier League.

For the Islamic community in the Netherlands, sunset tonight marks the start of Ramadan. For one month, Muslims are not allowed to eat, drink, smoke or have sexual intercourse between sunrise and sunset.

Three rounds of play

In the fasting month, which ends just before or in the fourth weekend of April, at least three rounds of play in the premier league are scheduled. The KNVB has provided the professional clubs in the Netherlands with a number of guidelines for this, says a spokesperson.

The referees will briefly stop the games at “the next available time after sunset (in case of a foul, throw-in, back ball, etc.)”, according to the football association. The match will resume as soon as possible.

The temporary suspension of a duel only happens in matches where at least one player is on the field who participates in Ramadan. Referees and team managers of both clubs will discuss this before the start of the match, so that everyone is informed.

Feyenoord captain Orkun Kökcü and Excelsior captain Redouan el Yaakoubi, among others, participate in Ramadan every year.

In the coming month there are thirteen premier league matches that are in progress when the sun disappears behind the horizon or has just disappeared.

Matches in the English football league will also be suspended next month. England umpires have been given guidelines by the Umpires’ Association to allow a “natural break” during which players will be given the opportunity to eat and drink something.

Before the duels, referees must agree a time with the players for the break. Until now, players often chose a moment to go to the sideline, during an injury or a substitution. It is the first time that such rules are officially applied.

Among others, big stars such as Mohamed Salah (Liverpool), Riyad Mahrez (Manchester City) and N’Golo Kante (Chelsea) participate in Ramadan.

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