Following reports that Sky Sports were proposing to reschedule at least one Premier League fixture from Saturday December 23rd to Christmas Eve, it hasn’t gone down well with the fans.
The suggestion has seen the Football Supporters’ Federation state that the move would ‘represent a new low point in putting the interests of football broadcasters over those of match going fans’.
The idea centres around Liverpool’s away trip to Arsenal at the Emirates and the suggestion it would be given a 4pm kick off on Christmas Eve.
That would leave fans of both clubs having to make the decision to choose between the game and family commitments, especially with Liverpool fans having public travel issues following the game.
Chelsea have publicly come out against the proposal, whereas West Ham’s David Gold supports the idea unless there are ‘objections’ from ‘religious people’.
Liverpool have obviously come out against the plan given the disruption and position it would place their fans in.
In recent years, 2011 and 2016, Christmas Eve has fallen on a Saturday and it was pretty much accepted that on those occasions no fixtures would take place, yet a deliberate move to Christmas Eve, a Sunday, and the logistical travel problems associated would otherwise fly in the face of what had been a sensible policy previously.
Supporter representatives from across the top flight have raised objections and stated their clear opposition to such a plan and the FSF will raise the issue in their upcoming biannual meeting with the Premier League and with broadcasters to register their ‘discontent’ and to continue to seek full involvement and consultation with supporters in determining future scheduling decisions.
