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A Bundesliga game between Mainz and Augsburg on April 6 was paused as the referee allowed Mainz centre-back Moussa Niakhate to break his Ramadan fast.
The 26-year-old broke his fast during the match at the 65th minute when match referee Matthias Jollenbeck halted the game to allow Niakhate to hydrate himself.
In der vorigen Woche wurde erstmals ein Bundesligaspiel unterbrochen, damit ein muslimischer Spieler kurz nach Sonnenuntergang sein Fasten während des Ramadans brechen konnte. Ein Beispiel, das Schule machen könnte.
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Niakhate drank out of two bottles to break his fast and thanked Jollenbeck with a quick handshake.
The occasion marked the first time a game in Bundesliga history had been paused to allow a practising Muslim to break their fast.
Fans across the world showed their appreciation after footage of the gesture went viral online.
"There is no general instruction in this regard, but of course, we support our referees allowing such drinking breaks during Ramadan at the request of the players," German Referee Committee general communications director Lutz Michael Frohlich said.
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