A-League to introduce breaks during sunset matches in Ramadan

A-League players observing Ramadan will be able to break their fast in matches played over sunset during the holy period.

Ali Auglah celebrates scoring for Macarthur FC. Picture: Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images

A-League players observing Ramadan will be allowed to break their fast during matches this season.

Ramadan, which this year starts on Saturday week and ends on April 8, is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar in which Muslims abstain from eating and drinking from dawn until sunset.

However, this season during Ramadan, clubs will be permitted to ask for 90-second breaks in A-League matches held during the time of sunset to allow players observing the holy period to break their fast.

Similar breaks are used in other competitions around the world, including the English Premier League and America’s Major League Soccer.

Macarthur FC’s Ali Auglah celebrates after scoring a goal. Picture” Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images

PFA co-chief executive Beau Busch said: “Our feedback from players observing Ramadan in previous seasons was that they were supportive of any new policy that would help them not only during training and preparation, but also during matches.

“Our playing group is representative of the many different backgrounds and faiths and we need to ensure that the workplace environment ensures they feel supported and initiatives such as this are another step forward.”

Macarthur forward Ali Auglah said he would have “dates and some water” during a break.

“Within the football community, particularly in Muslim-majority nations, there’s a growing initiative to facilitate the fasting practices of players during this time, recognising the importance of accommodating religious obligations within sports,” Auglah told the PFA and A-League websites.