Girls playing youth football

Holy Month of Ramadan - How Can You Support?

Support members of your football community.

For the world’s more than 1.6 billion Muslims, Ramadan marks a period of fasting from dawn until sunset, Muslims refrain from consuming food, drinking liquids, smoking.

Muslims are also instructed to refrain from sinful behaviour that may negate the reward of fasting, such as false speech (insulting, backbiting, cursing, lying, etc.) and fighting.

Food and drink is served daily, before dawn and after sunset. Spiritual rewards for fasting are also believed to be multiplied within the month of Ramadan. Fasting for Muslims during Ramadan typically includes the increased offering of prayers and recitation of the Quran.

Ramadan also teaches Muslims how to better practice self-discipline, self-control, sacrifice, and empathy for those who are less fortunate; thus encouraging actions of generosity and compulsory charity.

  • If a member of your club/league has made you aware they are fasting offer them the opportunity to abstain from the practical activities.
  • If you are unsure if the learner is fasting check the register first if Islam is their chosen faith, a quiet word will suffice offering them the opportunity to participate in any practical or not
  • Most Muslims fasting during Ramadan will have to perform prayers can you check if there is a suitable room at the venue where they can perform this, the one prayer during the day which they might have to perform will be between 1.15pm and 2.15pm; please allow dispensation for prayer times. https://www.islamic-relief.org.uk/about-us/what-we-do/ramadan/ramadan-timetable/
  • Muslims are expected during Ramadan to perform night prayers if there is a pattern of lateness this might be due to the fact they will not sleep till 4am! However this should not be used an excuse for lateness but maybe a mitigating factor
  • World class coaching/support begins with attention to detail. The greeting for this period is ‘Ramadan Mubarak’ or ‘Ramadan Kareem’ roughly translated means ‘Have a blessed Ramadan’

Start date Saturday 2nd April or Sunday 3rd April; the day of Eid which marks the end of Ramadan will either be Sunday 1st May or Monday 2nd May, the reason for this is that the Islamic faith runs on a lunar calendar and is dependent on the sighting of the moon.

Ramadan Mubarak everyone.

The FA's Ramadan Guidance

England Football Calendar and Guide to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in Grassroots Football