Bastian Dankert asked for a drink break - and at first glance that was quite unusual.

The pros from RB Leipzig and TSG Hoffenheim had been chasing the ball for less than half an hour, it was cool in the arena anyway, and the fans were shivering on the seat shells.

One evening in April - but that's exactly where the explanation for the referee's decision was found.

Because Ramadan has started.

And the Bundesliga is just beginning to take the Muslim month of fasting into account.

"Thanks to the referee and the players," wrote Leipzig defender Mohamed Simakan on Twitter after his team's 3-0 lead, "they gave me a few minutes to break my fast."

From April 1st to May 1st, devout Muslims are not allowed to eat or drink anything during the day.

They are only allowed to do this at sunset, on Sunday in Leipzig it was 7:58 p.m.

Referee Dankert interrupted the game, Simakan was able to get the necessary energy.

After two minutes it continued.

Isotonic drinks and protein shakes

Dankert is one of the pioneers among German referees.

Last Wednesday, Matthias Jöllenbeck interrupted the catch-up game between Augsburg and Mainz at the request of Mainz player Moussa Niakhaté, who was also fasting.

As the first referee in Bundesliga history.

This new type of game interruption has met with great approval from the clubs: "Since fasting can have a direct impact on physical and mental resilience, we very much welcome the fact that the players are being given an appropriate break," said Dr.

Robert Percy Marshall, RB Leipzig team doctor, on request.

As soon as possible, the respective athletes are then provided with isotonic drinks or protein shakes.

The situation is nothing new for the clubs.

"We are in constant contact with the athletes in terms of subjective resilience," explains Marshall.

RB coach Domenico Tedesco also takes the fasting period into account for players like Simakan: "If intensive training is then due, then it will be partly controlled."

However, players are free to break their fast on match days and during preparation, as Aiman ​​Mazyek, chairman of the Central Council of Muslims in Germany, told Deutschlandfunk.

So the pros could eat as usual and then catch up on the corresponding days.

However, like Simakan, there are some players who do not wish to take advantage of this exemption.

In the Bundesliga, too, such interruptions could become more frequent in the coming weeks and years, and drinking breaks on cool April evenings could become a habit.

German football would catch up with that.

In the English Premier League, for example, the topic is much more present.