There is set to be only ONE Premier League fixture on Boxing Day, Daily Mail Sport understands, in what would represent an apparent break from tradition that may well trigger outrage amongst football fans.
Calendar pressures triggered by UEFA competition expansion and the FA Cup switching exclusively to weekends appear to have forced the top flight’s hand into the unprecedented scheduling decision.
The Premier League is contractually obliged to deliver 33 weekends to broadcasters and needs to deliver on its promise to television companies who pay billions for rights.
As such, whilst no final decision has been made, Boxing Day is likely to be treated like any other Friday during the season in that only one match is screened.
Games would then take place on Saturday, Sunday and Monday, allowing the league to meet the criteria of delivering a full weekend’s worth of fixtures to broadcasters.
Further Talks Expected
Further talks are due between the Premier League, clubs and broadcasters, but those with knowledge of the matter believe significant change is unlikely at this stage.
There is also currently no decision on which fixture will be selected for festive viewing should there subsequently be only a sole offering on 26th December.
The Premier League did say an announcement for televised matches in December and January was due on 15th October, but an announcement remains elusive more than two weeks later.
The scheduling decision would mark a dramatic departure from Boxing Day tradition, which has seen full fixture lists played on the festive date for generations.
EFL Maintains Full Boxing Day Programme
It is an entirely different story in the English Football League, where there will be a full calendar of fixtures on Boxing Day across the Championship and Leagues One and Two.
It is also the same situation in the National League, demonstrating that lower divisions are maintaining traditions that the Premier League appears set to abandon.
The contrast between the top flight and lower leagues is likely to fuel criticism that the Premier League prioritises broadcasting contracts over fan experience and tradition.
Boxing Day Football History
The first Boxing Day match was played in 1888, establishing a tradition that has endured for 137 years.
Indeed, until 1965, games were also played on Christmas Day in England, with families attending matches on the morning of 25th December before returning home for festive celebrations.
Boxing Day football has become deeply embedded in British sporting culture, with many families making attendance at matches part of their Christmas traditions.
The potential scaling back of fixtures on the date represents a significant break with this cherished aspect of English football heritage.
Broadcasting Obligations
Under the terms of their broadcast deal, the Premier League is obliged to deliver 33 weekends and five midweek programmes to television companies.
The expansion of UEFA competitions including the Champions League, which now features more matches in a revised format, has created significant calendar congestion.
Additionally, the FA Cup’s move to exclusively weekend fixtures with replays scrapped has removed flexibility that previously existed in the football calendar.
These factors combined have left the Premier League struggling to fulfil its contractual obligations whilst maintaining traditional fixture patterns.
2014 Comparison
The last time Boxing Day fell on a Friday was in 2014, when a full top-flight fixture list took place without the scheduling restrictions apparently planned for this year.
The difference in approach suggests that calendar pressures have intensified significantly over the past decade due to competition expansion.
There is confidence within the competition that next year’s Boxing Day, which falls on a Saturday, will return to normal thanks to the way the calendar falls.
This indicates the issue is specific to Boxing Day falling on a Friday rather than a wholesale abandonment of festive football traditions.
FA Cup Changes
Last year, the FA announced that the FA Cup would be moving entirely to weekends, with replays scrapped, as part of a six-year agreement between themselves and the Premier League.
The changes came on the back of calendar adjustments “driven by the expanded UEFA competitions” which have added significant fixture congestion to the season.
The removal of FA Cup replays, which previously provided flexibility for rescheduling league fixtures, has contributed to the current scheduling challenges.
Critics have argued that traditional domestic competitions are being sacrificed to accommodate lucrative European tournaments and broadcasting requirements.
Fan Reaction Expected
The potential reduction to just one Boxing Day fixture is likely to trigger outrage amongst supporters who view the festive football programme as sacrosanct.
Many fans make Boxing Day matches a key part of their Christmas celebrations, with families attending together as an annual tradition.
Travelling supporters in particular may be frustrated by reduced fixture options on a day when many have time off work and would typically attend away matches.
Supporter groups are expected to voice strong opposition to any permanent changes that diminish the Boxing Day fixture list.
Commercial Considerations
The decision reflects the increasing dominance of broadcasting revenue in Premier League decision-making, with contracts worth billions driving scheduling choices.
Television companies pay premium rates for exclusive weekend coverage, creating financial incentives to spread major fixtures across Friday to Monday rather than concentrating them on a single day.
However, critics argue that football authorities are losing sight of match-going supporters in pursuit of television revenue, fundamentally changing the sport’s character.
The tension between traditional football culture and commercial imperatives continues to generate controversy across English football.
What Happens Next
The Premier League is expected to make a formal announcement about December and January television fixtures in the coming days, confirming whether the single Boxing Day match plan proceeds.
Clubs, supporters’ groups and broadcasters will all have input into the final decision, though the contractual obligations to deliver weekend programming are likely to prove decisive.
If the single-match Boxing Day becomes reality, it will represent one of the most significant breaks with tradition in Premier League history.
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