MX23RW : Thursday, March 28 23:39:16| >> :120:18847:18847:

Wesley Fofana grateful for mid-match pause to break Ramadan fast

Wesley Fofana grateful for mid-match pause to break Ramadan fast
© Reuters
In what is thought to be a first in Premier League history, play stopped to allow players to break their fast after sunset.

The Premier League, Leicester and Crystal Palace have been praised for pausing mid-match to allow Wesley Fofana to break his Ramadan fast – thought to be a first in the division's history.

The Monday night fixture was briefly stopped to allow the Foxes defender to take a drink, something the 20-year-old Frenchman thanked all parties for in a Twitter message the following day.

"Just wanted to thank the @premierleague as well as @CPFC, @vguaita13 all the Foxes for allowing me to break my fast tonight in the middle of the game," he wrote.

"That's what makes football wonderful."

During the month of Ramadan, which runs from April 12 to May 12 this year, fasting Muslims do not eat or drink during daylight hours.

In an unusual gesture, both sides stopped after the sun went down to allow for the breaking of the fast.

Fofana had been substituted during last week's game with West Brom to allow him to rest and take on food, with manager Brendan Rodgers describing the defender's performances as "remarkable" considering the circumstances.

Monday's move won praise from the Muslim community, with Ismail Bhamji – managing director and founder of Muslim Chaplains in Sport (MCS) – one of those who was impressed.

"It's not something the Premier League had to do," Bhamji, 36, told the PA news agency.

"By doing this they have set a very good precedent in sending a message of what the Premier League is actually doing in facilitating and accommodating for players of different faiths.

"It's a very kind, lovely message from the Premier League to allow this to happen, and the clubs which were involved as well.

"They've gone out of their way to show their support for the Muslim player and I'm hopeful they will do this for other players if they request this as well."

Ismail Bhamji stands in white clothing in front of a number of Tottenham footballers on a grey carpet in a lit room
Ismail Bhamji – managing director and founder of Muslim Chaplains in Sport (MCS) – with a group of Tottenham players (Property of Muslim Chaplains In Sport)

The MCS works with Premier League and EFL clubs to educate on a number of topics, such as Ramadan, cultural awareness and prayer guidance.

Bhamji said to his knowledge this was the first time the breaking of the fast had happened in professional football in England.

He added that it could spark increased interest from young Muslim footballers, and said he had contacted the Premier League to let it know what an "amazing thing" it had done.

A picture of some leaflets and literature from the Muslim Chaplains In Sport, on a light brown table with an orange Premier League sign next to it that reads 'Premier League Wellbeing - Muslim Chaplains in Sport'
The MCS works with Premier League and EFL clubs to educate on a number of topics, such as Ramadan, cultural awareness and prayer guidance (Property of Muslim Chaplains In Sport)

"This will continue now for many years, 25 years or more, where the fasting will come into the footballing season," he said.

"So it's something the Premier League will have to look into and maybe have some policy in place.

"I would say that this will offer a firm assurance to Muslim football players and to parents of the young players who are aspiring to become football players, that their spiritual needs, their faith needs, will be looked after at the Premier League, and EFL clubs as well.

"We could possibly see, just by this one small action, an increase of interest for sure, and maybe someone breaking into a good Premier League team, and maybe into the English national team – you never know.

"I've actually contacted my contact at the Premier League to let him know that it's an amazing thing that they've done."

ID:445061: cacheID:445061:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:7719:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
West Ham United's Jesse Lingard celebrates scoring against Leicester City in the Premier League on April 11, 2021
Read Next:
Redknapp: '14 Premier League clubs would have jumped at Super League'
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Leeds UnitedLeeds38257670284282
2Leicester CityLeicester37264774334182
3Ipswich TownIpswich38249580493181
4Southampton36227773472673
5West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom381991059362366
6Norwich CityNorwich381871369541561
7Hull City371610115346758
8Coventry CityCoventry3715121059431657
9Preston North EndPreston37168134954-556
10Middlesbrough38166165352154
11Cardiff CityCardiff38165174351-853
12Sunderland38146184845348
13Watford381212145351248
14Bristol City38138174245-347
15Swansea CitySwansea381210164858-1046
16Millwall381110173650-1443
17Blackburn RoversBlackburn38119185164-1342
18Plymouth ArgylePlymouth381011175462-841
19Stoke CityStoke38118193553-1841
20Queens Park RangersQPR381010183650-1440
21Birmingham CityBirmingham38109194259-1739
22Huddersfield TownHuddersfield38815154261-1939
23Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds38115223061-3138
24Rotherham UnitedRotherham38311243077-4720


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!