FA Cup to pause for Ramadan fasting players

Football Association (FA) announced on Friday that FA Cup matches falling during Ramadan will briefly pause to accommodate Muslim players who are fasting.

This decision comes as the Islamic holy month begins this weekend, with key fixtures such as Manchester City’s home tie against Plymouth and Manchester United’s match against Fulham potentially affected.

Muslim players will observe fasting during daylight hours, abstaining from food and drink, and the FA has confirmed that players who are fasting will be allowed a short break in play to break their fast.

The break will be scheduled at an approximate time and will not serve as a team drinks break or tactical timeout.

The City vs Plymouth game is scheduled for 17.45 CET on Saturday, just two minutes before sunset at 17.47 CET. Meanwhile, Manchester United’s match against Fulham, set for 16.30 CET on Sunday, will see the sunset at 17.49 CET.

These timings align with the brief pauses that will be incorporated into the games to allow Muslim players such as City’s Omar Marmoush and Abdukodir Khuzanov, United’s Noussair Mazraoui, and Fulham’s Adama Traore to break their fast.

This year’s Ramadan will span from 1 to 30 March, with the FA Cup quarter-finals scheduled for the weekend of 29-30 March, likely to be affected as well.