Everton midfielder: Islam before football

As Ramadan inches closer with only hours away, Everton midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure speaks about his faith in relation to the holy month in which able-bodied Muslim faithfuls are mandated to fast.

The 30-year-old is a devout Muslim, and he speaks about how fasting affects the physical exertion required to do his job as a footballer.

Abdoulaye Doucoure speaks at Everton's training ground after a session, where he spoke about Ramadan, fasting, and being a footballer in the holy month.

He started by saying how important his religion, and consequently Ramadan, are to him, saying his faith is more important to him than his job—being a footballer.

He explains that sometimes fasting makes it hard to play football, as it has many times occurred during the summer and pre-season, periods that are usually physically gruelling and require regular fluid intake.

However, he explains that he has been lucky and has not particularly struggled with juggling football and fasting, revealing that he has always fasted even when he had matches.

"I always love Ramadan," Abdoulaye Doucoure tells BBC Sport.

"Sometimes playing football has been hard because Ramadan has been in the summer and during pre-season.

"But I have always been lucky to practise Ramadan and there have never been problems with my physical condition - I am grateful for that.

"My religion is the most important thing in my life - I put my religion first, then comes my work. You can do both together and I am happy with that.

"You get so much free time so I am always able to go to the mosque to pray and to enjoy my religion when I'm at home."

As we reported in detail here, Muslim Premier League footballers like Abdoulaye Doucoure will be allowed to break their fast even when a football game is going on.

Referees in the Premier League have been instructed to temporarily stop the game when a natural pause in play like a throw-in comes up around iftar time to allow Muslim footballers and officials to break their fast.