How Premier League clubs support players during Ramadan

For professional footballers observing the religious month of Ramadan, balancing the physical demands of elite performance with fasting can present unique challenges, particularly during a packed match calendar. 

In recent years, greater awareness and open dialogue have helped create more supportive environments for Muslim players who choose to fast during the religious month, ensuring their health, wellbeing and performance are protected.

At clubs across Europe and beyond, medical and performance teams are playing a crucial role in that support. Dr Zafar Iqbal, Arsenal’s Head of Sports Medicine and Performance, has two decades’ experience in elite football with clubs such as Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur, Leyton Orient and Crystal Palace.

Dr Iqbal has worked closely with Muslim players in England since the late 2000s, helping to develop practical, player-centred approaches around nutrition, hydration, sleep and training adjustments during Ramadan.

FIFPRO sat down with Dr Iqbal to reflect on how conversations around fasting in professional football have evolved, the importance of trust and respect between players and staff, and the steps a club like Arsenal take to ensure Muslim players feel supported.

FIFPRO: You’ve been working in sports and exercise medicine since 2005. When did supporting professional footballers observing Ramadan start to become more of a conversation in football?

Dr Zafar Iqbal: I noticed it personally in 2008 when I was working at Tottenham Hotspur and where one of the players was fasting and training during the month of Ramadan. It was through my conversations with him that it became apparent that he was doing this with some support from staff within the club. 

He would tell me players at other clubs would fast secretly due to fear of it being held against them and possibly not being selected. I then researched more into the area, to see what barriers and concerns players and staff had with players fasting and how they could be best supported.

When a player chooses to observe Ramadan, what are the main health and wellbeing considerations you’re thinking about first?

The initial conversations are around nutrition, hydration and recovery strategies. We know that the right nutrition and hydration is important to perform, recover and reduce risk of injuries. In some countries you can also alter the training schedule to help the players train or play, at a time that will optimise when they can take on nutrition and fluids, such as training after they have opened their fast. 

If a player chooses to fast and train, then as Medical and Performance we have to respect their wishes and support them to get the best outcome for all. If we don’t help the player or advise against fasting, then the player may well continue doing it in secret, which isn’t going to be helpful to the player or team.

Sleep can be disrupted during Ramadan. What practical support do players receive to manage rest and recovery, particularly with such a busy match calendar such as Arsenal's?

This can be difficult for footballers especially, as the normal sleep pattern can be disturbed due to waking up early to start the fast or prayers. We are fortunate to have a sleep consultant, who discusses with the players regarding the rest and recovery and how to best get the maximum required sleep during the day to minimise the disturbed sleep patterns.

Can you give an insight into how Arsenal help players observing Ramadan; how do you particularly support players around suhoor (meal before dawn) and iftar (meal after sunset) to help them feel recovered?

Before Ramadan starts, the Medical and Performance team will identify the players that are choosing to fast and discuss how we can best help the player. We have an excellent nutritionist, who works closely with the players who choose to fast. This starts in the month leading up to Ramadan and discussions will be had regarding the times of the fast to create a tailored plan for nutrition and hydration. These can also include ready-made meals provided by the club to take daily and make it more convenient and less time-consuming for players. 

We will also see if a player needs any additional support regarding training; if during the month of Ramadan we feel they could benefit from training modification, then we will try and assist with that. 

Are there particular signs – physical or psychological – that you monitor more closely during Ramadan?

Where possible we try and keep the routines regarding screening and monitoring of the player the same and minimise the player feeling they are being treated any different to others. We do a wellness questionnaire with every player daily, so we’re able to look out for any obvious changes from their response or the screening that we do through the week.

On matchdays, how do you adjust routines to help fasting players feel prepared and match-ready?

This is probably the most challenging area, especially if it’s a game that finishes before the time to open the fast. It’s easier where fasts are not as long, such as during the winter months compared with the summer months where a game in the UK may be at midday – and then the player can’t take on food or fluid until sunset after 9pm. We discuss with players individually and some may use the exemption of not fasting during matchdays, as they have travelled to another city and make up the fast on another day.

From a wellbeing perspective, what does 'doing Ramadan right' look like for a club supporting Muslim players?

The key is open dialogue and making players feel respected, supported, and that they feel they’re not being treated as different to others. With the raised awareness of footballers fasting during Ramadan, there has also been increased support provided by football governing bodies. For example, in the Premier League a break in play is offered by the referee if a player is fasting and the time to open the fast falls during the game. From recent instances where this has happened, it has not stopped the flow of the game and has been well received by the players affected. The break is no different than a pre-determined water break when the conditions are very hot. It also certainly takes less time than many VAR interruptions.

As there is more support being provided to players fasting, it is now more accepted as part of the differences you have within a multicultural, multifaith team. By acknowledging such differences and making players feel more welcome and accepted, you provide a happier and healthier environment which can only benefit the team as a whole.