Belgian Pro League Resists Ramadan Fast-Breaking Breaks Unlike Premier League

"As in recent years, at the request of the club or the player, it can be done, it’s really on a case-by-case basis. [...] But for the moment, there is no discussion or reflection to allow breaks in this regard, as is done in the Premier League for example," Stijn Van Bever, spokesman for the Jupiler Pro League, told La Dernière Heure. According to him, the current model works well, therefore "there is no reason to change it." "When there is a break during the match for a substitution or for another event, the player can then break his fast, the referees are informed," he adds.

"In Belgium, the subject is still taboo in the world of football," observes the current U23 coach at Union-Saint-Gilloise. According to him, we must work to adapt to it. "Last week, we broke the fast before warming up," he says. "Maybe the mentalities are not yet ready in Belgium, even if there are a lot of players who are Muslim. I’m convinced it will come later."

"In my time, for example, it was unthinkable to do your Ramadan in the middle of the sports season, it was frowned upon and we were told it was dangerous for our health. Today, we even see great coaches like Jürgen Klopp who adapt their training for some concerned players, I think it’s just a matter of adaptation," he continues, also hailing what is being done in England.