Leeds United have described the booing from sections of supporters during a Ramadan fast-breaking pause in last weekend’s defeat to Manchester City as “unexpected and disappointing,” while also outlining several circumstances they believe contributed to the incident.
The moment occurred at Elland Road when the match was briefly stopped to allow Muslim players to break their fast during the holy month of Ramadan.
Despite messages displayed on the stadium’s big screen explaining the stoppage, loud boos were heard during the 78-second delay.
In response, the Yorkshire club has urged supporters to show respect in similar situations moving forward, particularly with another planned pause expected during Sunday’s FA Cup tie against Norwich City.
Leeds forward Joel Piroe is among those likely to take part in the fast-breaking moment.
However, while addressing the incident in an official statement, Leeds stopped short of issuing a direct apology.
Instead, the club detailed four “mitigating circumstances” that it believes contributed to the reaction from the crowd.
“This was the first time a game at Elland Road has ever been paused to allow players observing Ramadan to break their fast,” the official statement read.
“In hindsight, we should have been more proactive with our communications in advance of the Manchester City fixture to explain to supporters that this was going to happen, there was a clear lack of awareness by some attending the fixture.”
The club also explained that the communication inside the stadium did not reach every section of supporters.
“Whilst we displayed a message on our big screen at Elland Road to explain why the game had been paused, this was not visible for approximately 25 per cent of the stadium, including the South Stand.”
Furthermore, Leeds suggested the stoppage may have been mistaken for a previous controversial pause in a meeting with City earlier in the season.
“In our preceding fixture with Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium in November 2025 the game was controversially stopped in the second half for a ‘tactical timeout’ during an injury break and with the squads congregating on the touchline supporters may have thought this was happening again (a similar incident to this also happened last Tuesday against Sunderland AFC leading to booing).
“At the time of the stoppage, given the intensity at the start of the match, a number of players were confused why the game had been paused, which can be seen clearly on broadcast footage and may have also led to confusion for supporters.
“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 our own supporters are subjected to at every match from opposition fans.
“As a club, we will continue to work to ensure that in time, these issues cease to exist.”
Under Ramadan observance, practising Muslims refrain from food and drink, including water, from dawn until sunset, making such pauses increasingly common across football competitions during the fasting period.
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