Premier League fans fume as Christmas and New Year schedule is confirmed
Premier League fans have been left fuming at the new Christmas and New Year schedule following the World Cup.
The league confirmed on Monday which matches over the festive and New Year period will be broadcast live on TV. They explained: “Special arrangements have been made to allow more time between games played across the three festive match rounds.”
Such ‘special arrangements’ meant changing several fixture dates, with three Boxing Day clashes Chelsea v Bournemouth, Manchester United v Nottingham Forest and Leeds United v Manchester City – all being moved to later dates on December 27 and December 28 respectively.
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The Premier League claims the changes will “allow greater time for players to recover” by increasing the rest period between gameweeks 18-19, so that clubs will not play within 48 hours of their other matches.
But many fans have reacted negatively on social media to the arrangements, particularly those who had already made plans to watch their teams play on Boxing Day.
One wrote on Twitter: “Thanks for ruining Boxing Day. Stains on humanity.”
What do you think of the Premier League's new festive period fixture list? Let us know in the comments section.
Another tweeted: “Fans who have booked hotels and travel for Boxing Day will rightly be fuming with this.” While a third added: “Do you ever show consideration for genuine fans who actually go to games?”
Meanwhile, Arsenal’s Boxing Day clash with West Ham at the Emirates was moved to a peculiar 8pm kick-off time, further aggravating supporters of the clubs.
Others fumed at the lack of clarity in relation to when the rest of the fixtures will be played in January, saying: “When are you announcing the rest of January? @premierleague total shambles as usual.”
All fixtures for MW17-19
Monday December 26
12:30 Brentford vs Spurs (Prime Video)
Crystal Palace vs Fulham (Prime Video)
Everton vs Wolves (Prime Video)
Leicester vs Newcastle (Prime Video)
Southampton vs Brighton (Prime Video)
17:30 Aston Villa vs Liverpool (Prime Video)
20:00 Arsenal vs West Ham (Prime Video)
Tuesday December 27
17:30 Chelsea vs AFC Bournemouth (Prime Video)
20:00 Man Utd vs Nott'm Forest (Prime Video)
Wednesday December 28
20:00 Leeds vs Man City (Prime Video)
Friday December 30
19:45 West Ham vs Brentford
20:00 Liverpool vs Leicester (Sky Sports)
Saturday December 31
12:30 Wolves vs Man Utd (BT Sport)
AFC Bournemouth vs Crystal Palace
Fulham vs Southampton
Man City vs Everton
Newcastle vs Leeds
17:30 Brighton vs Arsenal (Sky Sports)
Sunday January 1
14:00 Spurs vs Aston Villa (Sky Sports)
16:30 Nott'm Forest vs Chelsea (Sky Sports)
Monday January 2
17:30 Brentford vs Liverpool (Sky Sports)
Tuesday January3
19:45 Everton vs Brighton
19:45 Leicester vs Fulham
20:00 Arsenal vs Newcastle (Sky Sports)
20:00 Man Utd vs AFC Bournemouth
Wednesday January 4
19:30 Southampton vs Nott'm Forest
19:45 Leeds vs West Ham
20:00 Aston Villa vs Wolves
20:00 Crystal Palace vs Spurs (Sky Sports)
Thursday January 5
20:00 Chelsea vs Man City (Sky Sports)
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