Feyenoord Adjusts Training for Muslim Players During Ramadan

When your religious practice requires fasting from sunrise to sunset, training with one of Europe's top soccer clubs becomes incredibly demanding. Feyenoord is proving that competitive excellence and spiritual observance don't have to conflict.

Head coach Robin van Persie announced the Rotterdam club has adjusted training schedules for Muslim players observing Ramadan. Players who are fasting can arrive later, leave earlier to spend time with family, and follow modified workout plans tailored to their needs.

"We understand that fasting all day is not easy," Van Persie told reporters before Feyenoord's match against Telstar. The club works closely with at least five Muslim players, including Moroccan international Oussama Targhalline and Algerian midfielder Anis Hadj Moussa, to ensure they can compete at their highest level.

The adjustments recognize a significant physical reality. Elite athletes typically consume thousands of calories daily and stay carefully hydrated. Going without food or water from dawn until sunset while training and competing requires careful management.

Van Persie emphasized that individual workloads are adjusted during this period. The coaching staff collaborates across departments to balance religious observance with the demands of professional competition during a crucial part of the season.

The Ripple Effect

Feyenoord's approach reflects a broader shift in European soccer. The Dutch Eredivisie now permits brief in-game pauses at sunset, allowing referees to stop play at the first natural break so fasting players can quickly hydrate or take nutrition on the sidelines.

These accommodations send a powerful message beyond the pitch. When elite sports organizations adapt their structures to support diverse athletes, they demonstrate that belonging and excellence can coexist. Young Muslim athletes watching see professional pathways that honor both their ambitions and their faith.

The policy also models workplace flexibility that could inspire other industries. If high-stakes professional sports can accommodate religious practice during critical competitive periods, other fields have fewer excuses for inflexibility.

Van Persie's matter-of-fact tone about the adjustments is perhaps the most encouraging part: treating religious accommodation as a normal part of managing a diverse team, not an exceptional burden. In a sport increasingly global in its talent pool, Feyenoord is showing what genuine inclusion looks like in practice.