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Premier League points to European growth as reason for fewer Boxing Day fixtures

Premier League points to European growth as reason for fewer Boxing Day fixtures
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Officials from the Premier League have attributed the decrease in Boxing Day games this year to the growth of European tournaments.

Games on December 26 have long been a staple of the Premier Leagues holiday programme, yet this season sees just one match, with Manchester United welcoming Newcastle.

As Boxing Day lands on a Friday, the Premier League has opted for seven fixtures on Saturday December 27 and two more on Sunday December 28.

Recognising that fewer games on Boxing Day will draw criticism from fans who cherish football traditions, the Premier League has promptly pointed the finger at UEFA.

The body overseeing European football has boosted the participation in the Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League.

The Premier League would like to acknowledge the circumstances that have led to a reduced number of matches on Boxing Day this season, impacting an important tradition in English football, the Premier League stated on Friday.

There are now several challenges to Premier League fixture scheduling rooted in the expansion of European club competitions, which led to a revision of our domestic calendar ahead of last season, including changes to the FA Cup.

This ultimately left the Premier League as a 33 weekend competition, fewer than previous seasons, despite being a 380 match competition since 1995.

With fewer weekends to work with, the league is bound by how the calendar falls.

UEFA's European competitions now span 10 midweek matchdays rather than six, forcing the Premier League to adjust its schedule around the heightened continental commitments.

Worries about player wellbeing following the addition of extra games prompted FIFA, the global football authority, to mandate a minimum 72 hour rest between matches.

As with previous years and in keeping with our commitment to clubs, special arrangements have been made to allow more time between games played across the festive period, the Premier League said.

This will allow greater time for players to recover, with the rest periods between rounds 18, 19 and 20 being increased to ensure that no club plays within 60 hours of another match.

The Premier League intends to restore a fuller festive lineup on Boxing Day in the coming year.

The League can give an assurance that next season there will be more Premier League matches on Boxing Day, as the date falls on a Saturday, the statement added.