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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Keifer MacDonald

Premier League referees handed new guidance for Muslim players during Ramadan

Mohamed Salah, Idrissa Gana Gueye, Ibrahima Konate and Amadou Onana will all benefit from new guidance issued to referees across the Premier League aimed to help footballers of the Islamic faith during the month of Ramadan.

From March 22 onwards, Muslims will be fasting for one month during the hours of daylight and will only be allowed to consume food and drink once the sun has set - which could occur during afternoon and evening Premier League fixtures.

However, match officials across the Premier League and Football League have now been instructed to use natural stoppages in play to permit those fasting to take on fluids, snacks or energy gels when sunset occurs during games.

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Referees have also been advised to identify players who are completing a fast before kick-off in order to arrange a time within the game when they will be able to take food and fluids onboard.

The holy period of Ramadan will begin on March 22 and last until Friday, April 21.

Last year, Sadio Mane revealed that Jordan Henderson had convinced Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp to alter the club's training schedule during the period of Ramadan to better accommodate players within the squad who were fasting.

Mane, along with Salah, Konate and Naby Keita were just some of the Reds' stars observing the holy month which fell during the latter stages of the Reds' charge for unprecedented quadruple glory.

Speaking to beIN Sports at the time of fasting, Mane said: "'It's not easy because playing and training and doing Ramadan is not easy at all.

"But before Ramadan, we tried to speak with the captain [Henderson] to tell the boss maybe can we change the schedule and train in the morning. It's easier for us. If you train in the morning then you have time to rest and go home. If you train around two or three, it's gonna be tough!

"The coach said yes and I think that makes it easier and we're trying to do our best."

Asked about the challenges footballers following the Islamic faith face during the month of Ramadan, Mane added: "It's not easy, but like always the game day is something else!

"With Ramadan it's tough but I think Liverpool, they try to make everything easier for us.

"We speak with our nutritionist, Mona, and especially before the game day she did everything easier for us to make sure we can do our Ramadan."

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