La Liga has scheduled four consecutive FC Barcelona matches at 16:15 CET during the month of Ramadan, a decision that forces 18-year-old forward Lamine Yamal to play full 90-minute games while observing the Islamic fast. With sunset in Barcelona falling between 18:33 and 18:57 during this period, matches that kick off at 4:15 PM and end around 18:00 to 18:10 with stoppage time leave Yamal with no possibility of breaking his fast mid-game. The scheduling has drawn attention to La Liga's lack of any formal Ramadan accommodation policy, in stark contrast to the English Premier League.
The four affected fixtures are Levante vs Barcelona on February 22, which Barcelona won 3-0; Barcelona vs Villarreal at Camp Nou on February 28; Athletic Club vs Barcelona at San Mames on March 8; and Barcelona vs Sevilla at Camp Nou on March 15. Ramadan 2026 began around February 17-18 and runs through March 19, meaning all four matches fall squarely within the holy month. During the Levante match, television cameras captured a telling moment: while teammates gathered for a cooling break to drink water, Yamal stayed away from the group, stretching alone on the pitch and refusing to take any fluids.
Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick confirmed after the Levante victory that the club has developed what he described as a clear plan to manage Yamal throughout Ramadan. Flick acknowledged that Yamal is, to his knowledge, the only player in the squad currently fasting. The management strategy involves a carefully structured pre-dawn meal known as Suhoor around 4:00 AM, followed by aggressive nighttime hydration and nutrition protocols after sunset. Medical staff are closely monitoring the teenager's physical condition throughout training and matches.
The contrast with the Premier League is striking. England's top division has sanctioned mid-match fast-breaking since April 2021, when the practice was first introduced during a Leicester City vs Crystal Palace fixture. The Premier League allows Muslim players to consume fluids and energy gels during natural stoppages after sunset, and the league has confirmed the return of these Ramadan breaks for the 2025-2026 season. La Liga, however, has no equivalent policy in place, leaving clubs and players to manage the situation independently.
FIFPRO Medical Director Professor Dr. Vincent Gouttebarge has noted that sleep disruption is the single biggest challenge for fasting athletes, as Ramadan alters eating and sleeping patterns significantly. Gouttebarge stated that fasting while performing at the elite level is not optimal from a physiological perspective, but added that the spiritual element of Ramadan can provide athletes with additional motivation and mental resilience. The medical risks for a player like Yamal, who relies heavily on explosive sprints and rapid changes of direction, include dehydration, fatigue, muscle cramps, and a heightened risk of soft-tissue injuries.
Yamal, whose full name is Lamine Yamal Nasraoui Ebana, comes from a multicultural background. His father, Mounir Nasraoui, is originally from Larache in Morocco, while his mother, Sheila Ebana, hails from Bata in Equatorial Guinea. There are an estimated 34 Muslim players across La Liga this season, including Arda Guler, Antonio Rudiger, and Brahim Diaz at Real Madrid, meaning the scheduling issue extends well beyond a single player at Barcelona.
The debate around Ramadan accommodations in professional football continues to grow as the sport becomes increasingly global and diverse. With three more afternoon fixtures ahead for Barcelona during the fasting period, attention will remain on how Yamal copes physically and whether La Liga will eventually adopt formal guidelines similar to those already established in England. For now, the young star and his club are relying on careful nutritional planning and sheer determination to navigate a demanding schedule that offers no concessions to religious observance.
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