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Oliver Jones

Why match officials will introduce mid-fixture pauses into Leeds United's Premier League games

Match officials for midweek matches in the Premier League over the next few weeks have been asked by the FA to introduce mid-match pauses due to the Islamic holy period of Ramadan.

The holiday, which this year is being observed from Wednesday, March 22 until Friday, April 21, is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar and observed by Muslims worldwide as a month of fasting, prayer, reflection and community.

Many of the Premier League biggest stars like Liverpool's Mohamed Salah and Chelsea's N'Golo Kante are Muslims and will be expected to fast and will abstain from eating or drinking during daylight hours.

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That means that if they do play during midweek evening matches, they'll need to break their fast but refereeing bodies have asked officials to allow for a natural pause in play and give players the opportunity to break their fast through the use of energy gels, supplements or liquids.

This has been pushed more often in recent seasons by football's governing bodies including in England, with the previous stance being that a team must request a pause to do so, although natural pauses which will be used in this season's matches have been used over the past few years.

Referees have also been encouraged to identify players that might be required to break their fast during the match before kick-off and agree with both sides a time in which to do so.

With Leeds set to play in two midweek evening matches against Nottingham Forest on Tuesday, April 4 and Liverpool on Monday, April 17, any Muslim players in all three squads will be given the chance to break their fast.

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