Premier League considers Christmas Eve matches in latest round of TV scheduling

There are concerns that at least one Premier League match may be rescheduled for Christmas Eve, as scheduling discussions are finalized on Friday.

Proposals to move the first match on December 24, a date when there hasn’t been a game since 1995, have been brought up this week, although a decision has not yet been made.

The Premier League has not commented on the possibility, but their decision will be revealed soon when the new kick-off times for Christmas and New Year are published.

Scheduling plans and kick-off times are often amended due to broadcasters’ demands, local authorities, and other competition commitments. However, the idea of moving games to Christmas Eve has always been controversial, especially for away fans. December 24 matches were discussed in 2017, but were ultimately abandoned due to concerns expressed by MPs and fan groups regarding potential travel chaos.

Club insiders claim that at least one fixture scheduled for December 23 is at risk of being moved to Christmas Eve, which falls on a Sunday this year. There have also been discussions about the possibility of moving some December 30 games to New Year’s Eve, which could also pose travel difficulties.

The only match played on Christmas Eve in the modern Premier League era was Leeds United’s 3-1 victory over Manchester United in 1995, remembered for Tony Yeboah’s solo goal at Elland Road.

Sources close to the Premier League have stated that scheduling decisions are still being finalized. However, the league has declined to comment on whether festive matches will be rescheduled. “Nothing is final until final,” said an insider familiar with the discussions. “Not all changes are made solely for broadcasting purposes – some are made for local authorities or other competitions.”

One match that is not believed to be in contention for Christmas Eve is the highly anticipated Liverpool versus Arsenal fixture.

Last year, the Christmas schedule was affected by the World Cup in Doha, and the Premier League resumed on Boxing Day to address concerns about player burnout.

In 2017, the Premier League faced backlash when plans to broadcast matches on Christmas Eve were revealed. However, when Sky and BT Sport announced their selections, Christmas Eve was left clear, earning praise from then Premier League executive chairman Richard Scudamore for their “flexibility.”

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