The Premier League has torn up one of English football’s most cherished traditions with confirmation that Manchester United’s clash against Newcastle will be the only Boxing Day fixture this year. The rest of the top-flight sides will be forced to wait until December 27 or later to kick off their festive action.
The announcement has left fans furious as Boxing Day football has been a proud part of the national calendar since the nineteenth century, but this winter it will all but vanish. United’s meeting with Newcastle will take place at Old Trafford on December 26 at 8pm, live on Sky Sports, before a bumper batch of seven matches the following day.
In a statement, the Premier League blamed the chaotic calendar on the expansion of European competitions and the reshaped FA Cup, which now takes place only on weekends. “The Premier League acknowledges the circumstances that have led to a reduced number of Boxing Day matches,” said the League. “Scheduling challenges linked to the expansion of European tournaments required a revision of our domestic calendar.”
Officials insisted their hands were tied, explaining that the league now operates over 33 weekends instead of previous seasons’ totals, leaving fewer slots to squeeze in 380 matches. They also claimed that the revised schedule would protect players from fatigue, ensuring no team plays twice within 60 hours.
To satisfy broadcasters and spread the strain, fixtures have been stretched from December 26 to January 8, with a string of evening kick-offs. After United’s match, seven games will light up December 27, including Nottingham Forest vs Manchester City at 12.30pm on TNT Sports and Chelsea vs Aston Villa at 5.30pm on Sky. Arsenal, Liverpool and Tottenham will all feature over the same weekend.
The festive frenzy will continue with further rounds on December 30, New Year’s Day, and into the first week of January, when Arsenal host Liverpool on January 8 in another Sky Sports showdown.
For the first time since 1982, fewer than three Premier League matches will take place on Boxing Day. In stark contrast, the EFL will carry on with a full set of fixtures, keeping alive the spirit that the Premier League has now shelved.
The League insists the disruption is only temporary. “Next season there will be more Boxing Day matches as the date falls on a Saturday,” it promised. But for millions of fans who treasure that festive tradition, the damage may already be done.
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