LEEDS, England — Pep Guardiola condemned a section of Leeds United supporters who booed a brief Ramadan break during Manchester City’s 1-0 Premier League win at Elland Road, Feb. 28, 2026. The pause came after sunset to allow City players observing Ramadan to take on fluids, and Guardiola said the response showed a lack of respect for “religion” and “diversity.”
Play stopped in the 13th minute, with a message shown inside the stadium explaining the stoppage, but boos were still audible. Guardiola later told reporters: “Respect the religion, respect the diversity. That is the point.”
Ramadan break boos prompt Guardiola response
Guardiola said the short stoppage followed league guidance and questioned why it should be controversial at all. “The Premier League says you can have one or two minutes… for the [fasting] players to do it,” he said, calling the jeers “unfortunate.”
Leeds assistant head coach Edmund Riemer, speaking in place of Daniel Farke after the manager was sent off late, described the reaction as “disappointing” and said the club must “do better next time.”
Anti-discrimination charity Kick It Out also criticised the booing, saying it was “massively disappointing” and noting that pausing play for fasting players “has been an agreed protocol for several years.”
City edge Leeds as Semenyo strikes
City’s win was secured by Antoine Semenyo’s first-half goal in a tense match that featured heavy Leeds pressure and a late surge from the hosts. Guardiola’s side played without Erling Haaland, who was left out with what was described as a minor injury, but still held on to stay in the title race.
More details of Guardiola’s postmatch comments and the incident at Elland Road were reported by Sky Sports, while ESPN noted the stoppage was timed with sunset and involved multiple City players. The match narrative and City’s narrow margin were also covered in The Guardian’s match report.
For additional reporting on the fan reaction and the pause itself, see The Guardian and The Independent.
Why the pause happens
In Ramadan, Muslims fast from dawn to sunset, meaning players in late-afternoon and evening fixtures may go without food or drink (including water) until play is already underway. Matchday pauses are typically arranged in advance and taken at a natural stoppage to minimise disruption.
Continuity: Ramadan pauses have been building for years
Mid-game allowances for fasting players did not begin this season. In April 2021, Sky Sports reported on what was described at the time as the first Premier League match pause to let Wesley Fofana and Cheikhou Kouyaté break their fast.
The Premier League later summarised the policy in a club-focused explainer, writing that captains and officials can agree “a natural pause” for players to break their fast; see How players observe Ramadan in the Premier League.
Outside domestic football, players and federations have long grappled with how to balance elite competition and fasting. The Guardian reported in 2018 on World Cup squads preparing during Ramadan, highlighting both the logistical challenges and the differing approaches teams have taken.
And beyond England, leagues have moved in a similar direction: the Los Angeles Times noted in 2023 that Major League Soccer introduced an in-game “sustenance break” policy to support fasting players.
What happens next
Guardiola said the point of the pause is simple: allow players to meet basic needs without turning it into a flashpoint. The episode at Elland Road, he suggested, underlined why education around religion and inclusion in football still matters.
