Ahead of their match against Telstar on February 21, Feyenoord head coach Robin van Persie confirmed the club has introduced specific adjustments to support Muslim players observing Ramadan.
Speaking at his pre-match press conference, Van Persie stressed that the club is adapting schedules to facilitate religious practice while maintaining performance standards during a demanding part of the season.
He said, “The players who are fasting during Ramadan are allowed to arrive later for training. We take their training schedules into account, which differ from the others, and we collaborate a lot within the club to ensure their performance is at the best possible level. We understand that fasting all day is not easy.”
Ramadan requires players to fast from dawn until sunset which is a significant physical challenge for elite athletes competing at the highest level.
Robin van Persie (Feyenoord coach) : “ Players who are fasting for Ramadan (like Oussama Targhaline) are allowed to arrive later. We adapt their training schedule and help them as much as possible. pic.twitter.com/iAo7yH64Lj
— MoroccanGrinta (@MoroccanGrinta) February 21, 2026
Individual adjustments for fasting players
Van Persie explained that players who are fasting are allowed to arrive later to training sessions and may even leave earlier when they needed to spend time with family. The coaching staff also adjusts individual workloads, recognizing that going an entire day without food or water requires careful physical management.
Feyenoord’s current squad includes at least five Muslim players, among them Moroccan international Oussama Targhalline, Algerian midfielder Anis Hadj Moussa, as well as Ramiz Zerrouki and Ayoub Ouarghi.
Beyond training ground accommodations, the Eredivisie also permits brief in-game pauses at sunset. At the first natural stoppage, referees can allow fasting players to quickly hydrate or take nutrition on the sidelines before play resumes.
