West Ham United players, staff and their families joined to break their Ramadan fast at an Iftar held at the Club’s Rush Green training ground.
With the sighting of the new Moon, over 1.5 billion of the global population have spent the past month celebrating Ramadan, which marks the ninth month of the Islamic calendar and is a time when Muslims all over the world fast from sunrise to sunset amidst a period of deep spiritual reflection.
As the Islamic calendar is lunar, meaning each month begins with the new astronomical moon, Ramadan takes place during the course of the footballing season in most years. In 2022, Ramadan began on 1 April and will end at sunset tonight.
Further confirming the Club’s ongoing dedication and commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI), the Hammers partnered with Professional Footballers Association (PFA) Player Inclusion Executive Riz Rehman to host players, staff and their families from across all areas the Club at Rush Green, where they discussed the importance of Ramadan, answered the call to prayer and ended their fast at sunset.
West Ham also liaised with Nujum Sports to provide Ramadan packs for Muslim players in the Men’s and Women’s first-team squads, Academy players and Club staff. The packs contain items such as dates, holy water, tea, a prayer mat and an educational booklet.
Men’s first-team players Saïd Benrahma, Issa Diop, Arthur Masuaku and Kurt Zouma, Women’s defender Hawa Cissoko and Academy players Amadou Diallo and Ossama Ashley all gratefully received the packs.
As a Club, West Ham United is dedicated to listening, educating, influencing and raising awareness. Equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) sits firmly on the Board’s agenda and it is the Club’s desire to continually test its Equality Action Plan and, most importantly, its progress in line with our objectives to become an equity leader.
The Club will continue to push forward with its robust and effective community work to promote equality and are recognised as one of the Premier League Clubs leading the charge in this area.
In December 2020, the Club was awarded with the Advanced level of the Premier League’s Equality Standard (PLES) – the highest level which can be achieved, recognising an ongoing commitment to EDI.