Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has criticised supporters who fail to “respect religion and diversity” after some Leeds United fans booed a short pause that allowed Muslim players to break their Ramadan fast.
Saturday’s match at Elland Road was briefly halted 13 minutes in, just after sunset, so fasting players could take on food and drink. Although a message explaining the pause was displayed on the stadium’s big screen, sections of the home crowd reacted with jeers.
Speaking after City’s 1–0 win, Guardiola questioned the negative response. He described it as a matter of basic respect in a modern, diverse society, stressing that the allowance is permitted under Premier League guidelines. The pause, he noted, lasts only a minute or two.
Guardiola added that players such as Rayan Cherki and Rayan Aït-Nouri had not eaten during the day, so the break simply allowed them to take vitamins and fluids. “Nothing more than that,” he said.
With head coach Daniel Farke unavailable due to a red card, Leeds assistant manager Edmund Riemer addressed the media and described the boos as disappointing, though he admitted he had been focused on the game and did not fully register the reaction at the time.
Guardiola had outlined the plan for the pre-arranged stoppage before kick-off, confirming that City players Omar Marmoush, Rayan Aït-Nouri, Rayan Cherki and Abdukodir Khusanov were observing Ramadan. He explained that the club’s nutrition staff work closely with the players to manage their physical needs during the fasting period.
The City manager also pointed out that fixture schedules cannot be adjusted around religious observances, and emphasised that the players are experienced professionals who have observed Ramadan in previous seasons and understand how to manage their performance during it.
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