What do Football Players do during Ramadan?

What do Football Players do during Ramadan?

The highly anticipated start of Ramadan is said to be upon us, an integral part of the Islamic faith. Dedicated Muslims around the world will fast, pray, reflect spiritually, and increase good deeds, observing one of the Five Pillars of Islam. Fasting takes place during daylight hours, meaning no food or drink, including water, from dawn until sunset. The fast is broken at Iftar (sunset), while Suhoor is the pre-dawn meal eaten before the next day of fasting begins. As a result, Muslim athletes can often go more than 12 hours without food or water, depending on the time of year and location. So, how do Muslim footballers adapt their routines around Ramadan, and what measures are put in place to maintain their performance levels?

Protocols in Place

In the UK, the time of sunset usually falls between 6- 8 pm, depending on the time of year. This is the first time in the day that those partaking in Ramadan can break their fast. The Premier League first introduced a 'Ramadan Break' in April 2021, during a league fixture between Leicester and Crystal Palace. An agreed stoppage in play is allowed for Muslim players to break their fast after sunset, subject to the ball going out of play or at the nearest suitable stoppage.

Manchester United's Noussair Mazraoui took the opportunity to break his fast during an FA Cup fixture against Fulham in March last year, as he has spoken openly about the mental and physical challenges of balancing his religious obligations with elite-level footballing demands. The Premier League recently announced that procedures for Ramadan will continue to be observed, as is the case in the Eredivisie and A-League in Australia. Meanwhile, the Turkish Football Federation will continue to adjust schedules for evening matches during the month, so players can break their fast before the games begin.

Training Procedures

Aside from matchdays, Muslim players have benefited from alterations to training schedules, enhancing recovery and allowing them to prioritize their faith. Former Liverpool player Sadio Mane revealed how Jurgen Klopp supported him during the month of Ramadan. The German manager rearranged training for the morning, ensuring affected players would have more time to rest and recover before Iftar. Inside the club, nutritionists are on hand to prepare players with appropriate hydration and nutrition.

Sadio Mane has revealed that Liverpool have allowed their Muslim players to change their training schedules to help them recover during Ramadan 👏 pic.twitter.com/VOe2lDTdEl

— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) April 28, 2022

Player exertion without water is likely to lead to dehydration, meaning meals are carefully selected to maximize fluid retention, replenish electrolytes, and provide sustained energy between Iftar and Suhoor, helping players recover effectively and maintain peak performance levels.

Player Schedules & Performance

We have been fortunate enough to see some Muslim footballers share their schedules during the month of Ramadan. Aston Villa's Amadou Onana described his experiences while away with the Belgian national team, including waking up at 4am to eat his pre-dawn meal of Suhoor, before praying and returning to bed ahead of training. Onana has joked about still joining his teammates at lunchtime, sitting with them as they eat, before later spending time reading the Qur'an in the build-up to Iftar at sunset.

Though some may assume fasting would weaken performance levels, Onana explains that Ramadan actually makes him feel stronger, a routine that becomes second nature while helping to develop both mental resilience and physical discipline. That said, we have seen player performances enhanced during the month of Ramadan , despite the implications of fasting over long periods.

Karim Benzema is a prime example, netting a memorable hat trick in the Champions League against Chelsea, having broken his fast just 15 minutes before kick-off. The French striker scored ten goals during the period in 2022, before scoring back-to-back hat tricks in La Liga the following year. He earned himself the nickname 'Ramadan Karim Benzema' for his displays, having revealed he feels at his best when he is fasting. If fans thought that the Ramadan fast would hinder player performance, then his case should put any conversations to rest.

Did you know Real Madrid’s Karim Benzema broke his Ramadan fast 15-minutes before last seasons Champions League game against Chelsea but still scored a hat-trick in the quarter-final 1st leg match. If fans feared that fasting would hinder footballers, this performance by Benzema pic.twitter.com/IjvL3BkhVb

— Frank Khalid OBE (@FrankKhalidUK) March 22, 2023

Most professional football clubs operate with protocols in place, from nutrition and hydration strategies to adjusted training schedules, ensuring players can maintain optimum performance levels even when fasting. While these procedures are not clearly present across the footballing world, it is important that a start has been made, and we should continue to commend those who appropriately respect the demands of Ramadan.