Bundesliga referee creates history by halting play to allow Mainz star to break fast

Mainz defender Moussa Niakhate thanked a referee for stopping play during his team's recent game against Ausburg to allow him to break his fast.

Matthias Jollenbeck halted Wednesday evening's Bundesliga fixture in the 65th minute to allow Niakhate to hydrate. The 26-year-old is observing Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. Those observing do not eat or drink during the hours of daylight.

It was the first Bundesliga game in history to be stopped to allow a player to break fast during Ramadan. Niakhate appreciated the gesture, applauding Jollenbeck and shaking his hand before play resumed. The game finished 2-1 to home side Ausburg.

Other Bundesliga fixtures were paused to allow players to break their fasts. On Sunday, referee Bastian Dankert allowed RB Leipzig defender Mohamed Simakan to rehydrate during his team's 3-0 Bundesliga win against Hoffenheim.

"There is no general instruction in this regard, but of course we support our referees allowing such drinking breaks during Ramadan at the request of the players," said Lutz Michael Frohlich, the director of communications for the German Referee Committee, on Monday.

Last April, the Premier League game between Leicester and Crystal Palace at the King Power was halted to allow Wesley Fofana and Cheikhou Kouyate to break their fasts.

"Just wanted to thank the Premier League as well as Crystal Palace, Vicente Guaita and all the Foxes for allowing me to break my fast tonight in the middle of the game," tweeted Fofana after the fixture. "That's what makes football wonderful."

Fofana was substituted in the previous game against West Brom. "It was just one where I thought if I could get him off then he could get some food into him on the bench, and just