Leeds United have issued a statement calling for respect during Sunday's FA Cup fifth round tie with Norwich City, when play will be paused to allow Muslim players to break their Ramadan fast. The pause is expected around the 75th minute, corresponding to sunset at 5:56pm in Leeds.
The plea follows last Saturday's Premier League match against Manchester City, where a similar break was met with booing from some sections of the Elland Road crowd. The club described the reaction as 'disappointing and unexpected' and said the incident garnered national attention.
In their statement, Leeds acknowledged that communication around the Manchester City break had not been 'proactive' enough, and that messaging inside the stadium was not visible to all fans. However, they explicitly condemned any supporters who actively boo players observing Ramadan.
The club also highlighted broader issues, stating that football still has 'a long way to go in eradicating stains on the game', including racism, homophobia, tragedy chanting, and the 'sickening Jimmy Saville taunts' endured by Leeds fans. They called on supporters to show the best of the club on Sunday.
Leeds striker Joel Piroe, who observes Ramadan, will be among those benefiting from the agreed protocol. The pause will allow players from both teams to take on fluids and energy supplements.
