Currently, we are in the holy month of Ramadan, which takes place from March 1 to March 29, 2025. Today marks day 16 of this sacred period.
Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, is a sacred period of reflection, spirituality, and community for Muslims worldwide. During this time, observant individuals fast from sunrise to sunset, abstaining from food, drink, and other physical indulgences. The fast is broken after sunset with Iftar, while the pre-dawn meal, Suhoor, helps sustain energy for the day ahead.
For Muslim footballers, balancing the demands of professional sport with the religious obligations of Ramadan requires physical resilience, mental strength, and increasing support from clubs and leagues.
Challenges for Footballers During Ramadan
For elite athletes, fasting presents unique physiological challenges. With training sessions and competitive matches scheduled throughout the day, going extended hours without food, hydration, or energy replenishment can lead to fatigue, dehydration, and reduced endurance, all of which impact performance and recovery.
At the same time, for many Muslim footballers, Ramadan is not just a test of physical endurance but also a time of mental and emotional empowerment. Many describe fasting as a source of spiritual strength and discipline, helping them maintain focus, commitment, and unity both on and off the pitch.
How Players and Clubs Adapt During Ramadan
To help players sustain their performance levels, clubs and medical teams implement tailored strategies, including:
- Optimized Nutrition Plans: Carefully planned meals before and after fasting hours ensure balanced energy intake and hydration. Sports scientists advise against consuming excessive fluids at once, instead recommending consistent hydration spread over non-fasting hours.
- Adjusting Training Schedules: Where possible, training sessions are moved to evening hours, reducing exertion during fasting periods. Some players modify their routines to accommodate both religious obligations and peak performance.
- Medical and Performance Monitoring: Sports scientists and club medical staff work closely with fasting players to track hydration levels, prevent muscle fatigue, and maintain peak conditioning.
- Guidance from Football Federations: The German Football Association (DFB) provides training recommendations and nutritional guidance for Muslim players during Ramadan. Their official sports science division emphasizes the importance of gradual hydration and balanced food intake to support sustained performance. The DFB also recognizes that coaches and teammates play a crucial role in supporting fasting players, ensuring they do not feel isolated or disadvantaged.
- Personalized Decisions on Fasting: Some players choose to continue fasting on match days, while others opt to postpone their fast – a permissible Islamic practice for those with demanding physical responsibilities.
How Leagues and Clubs Support Muslim Players
With increasing awareness of Ramadan’s significance, leagues and clubs have introduced policies to accommodate fasting players, ranging from adjusted training regimens to in-game breaks during evening matches. However, support structures remain inconsistent, particularly in women’s football.
Ramadan in Practice: How Football Adapts
Women’s Football and Ramadan: A Growing Potential for Inclusion
Although men’s football has introduced progressive policies to accommodate fasting players, women’s football lags behind in structured support. Unlike their male counterparts, many professional women’s teams lack formal protocols for Ramadan, leaving players to navigate fasting challenges independently.
However, the potential for inclusivity in women’s football is vast. As the sport grows globally, clubs and federations have an opportunity to lead in cultural and religious inclusivity, setting a precedent for men’s teams to follow. A more systematic approach, including nutritional guidance, tailored training schedules, and official match policies, could ensure that Muslim women footballers do not have to choose between their faith and their careers.
In 2022, SC Freiburg players Ereleta Memeti and Hasret Kayıkçı discussed their experiences fasting while competing at the highest level. Speaking to SWR, Kayıkçı emphasized that fasting is an integral part of her faith and that she continues to perform at an elite level during Ramadan. She also highlighted the support from her coach and teammates, who respect her commitment to both her faith and the sport.
Premier League and Bundesliga: Leading the Way
Since 2021, the English Premier League has allowed referees to pause matches during sunset, enabling Muslim players to break their fast. This inclusive approach has been widely welcomed.
Similarly, in 2022, the German Bundesliga introduced in-game stoppages for fasting players, with Mainz defender Moussa Niakhaté becoming one of the first to receive an official hydration break after sunset.
Ligue 1’s Controversial Stance on Ramadan
France’s Ligue 1, however, has taken a different approach. The French Football Federation (FFF) prohibits match interruptions for fasting players, citing the nation’s strict secularism laws.
One of the most high-profile cases involved FC Nantes defender Jaouen Hadjam in April 2023. After refusing to break his fast on match days, Hadjam was excluded from the squad, with coach Antoine Kombouaré stating that while he respected the player’s religious beliefs, he would not select him during Ramadan.
The Future of Ramadan in Women’s Football
While men’s football has taken significant steps toward accommodating fasting players, women’s football is still in its early stages of implementing structured support systems. As more Muslim women enter the professional game, clubs and federations must recognize the opportunity for proactive change.
Expanding nutritional programs, developing clear training guidelines, and ensuring flexible match policies would set a new standard for religious inclusivity in the sport.
As football continues to globalize, Ramadan policies in women’s football could serve as a benchmark for inclusivity, ensuring that no player has to compromise between their faith and their profession.
Key Takeaways:
- The DFB has developed official training and nutritional guidelines for players fasting during Ramadan.
- Women’s football has significant potential to lead in cultural and religious inclusivity.
- While some leagues, like the Premier League and Bundesliga, support fasting players, Ligue 1 maintains a strict secular stance.
- Clubs and federations must expand policies to ensure that Muslim women footballers are fully supported during Ramadan.
Final Thoughts
The discussion surrounding Ramadan and football is evolving, with positive developments in some leagues while others remain resistant to change. As inclusivity becomes an integral part of professional football, it is crucial that women’s football is not left behind in this progression. By creating structured, well-researched policies, clubs and federations can ensure that all players, regardless of their faith, can compete at the highest level without compromising their beliefs.