History was made in the Isuzu UTE A-League on Friday night as play paused in Melbourne City’s home meeting with Macarthur FC for Muslim players to break their fast during the holy period of Ramadan.
Official breaks in play will occur across the Muslim holy month to allow players and match officials observing Ramadan break their fast during matches across the Ninja A-League Women and Isuzu UTE A-League Men.
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During Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting observed by Muslims around the world, Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset and for A-Leagues players and match officials, the opportunity to break their fast will often come during evening games that coincide with the setting sun.
The first official Ramadan break of 2025 occurred in the first half of Macarthur’s clash with City at AAMI Park; City defender Samuel Souprayen and Macarthur duo Kevin Boli and Saif-Eddine Khaoui were the three Muslim players involved in the Round 22 fixture.
Ramadan breaks are held as soon as possible after sunset, when the ball is out of play in a neutral position, after the mutually agreed time has been met with the conditions of;
- Players and Match Officials must remain on the field of play;
- Substitutes and Officials on the bench must remain in the technical area;
- The clock will continue to run with the allotted time added on as extra time, and;
- The Referee will signal 15 seconds remaining at which time Players are to take their positions back on the field of play.
