Playing football on Christmas Eve? The FSA, which unites English supporters' groups, is completely opposed to this idea and is shocked by reports that Wolverhampton Wanderers-Chelsea will be played on December 24th.
This fixture is currently scheduled for December 23rd, but various media outlets report that it will be moved to the evening of December 24th to accommodate the wishes of broadcasters.
'This would be a slap in the face to fans who have been fighting against playing on this day for years,' the FSA stated. 'Many fans are now faced with an impossible choice: attend the match or spend holiday time with your family. And an additional factor is travel on Sunday, since December 24th falls on this day this year.'
The FSA believes it already knows what argument the Premier League and broadcasters will bring to this discussion. 'That games are also played on Boxing Day. But then an important factor is forgotten. This game is an addition to the Boxing Day schedule, not a replacement. Boxing Day also always presents logistical challenges, but that is an accepted tradition that takes place after the big day, not before.'
In the Eredivisie, there will be no games played on the weekend of December 23rd and 24th this season. This was not the case in 2017. The last Premier League game played on December 24th took place in 1995.
Updated: 12:36, 21 Oct 2023
