For the first time since 1995, a Premier League match will be played on Christmas Eve when Wolves host Chelsea on Sunday afternoon.
Since Leeds beat Manchester United at Elland Road 28 years ago, there has not been an attack on Christmas Eve or on the day itself. And this match between the two heated rivals is the one to be played on December 24 since the creation of the Premier League in 1992.
But that’s about to change for the 23/24 season, despite loud protests from both sides. Chelsea’s holiday to the Midlands has been decided by television policy via Sky Sports, with the match kicking off at 1:00pm. It is almost general football policy to go through the festive period, with the festivities every single day from December 21 to January 2, with the only exceptions of Christmas Day and December 29.
However, the resolution did not prove popular with the two groups of enthusiasts dissatisfied with the Premier League’s resolution. The Wolves 1877 Supporters’ Trust said this “shows a complete lack of attention and respect towards supporters, i. e. Wolves supporters who come from far away and, of course, away Chelsea supporters”.
“This is also unfair to club staff, especially those with young children, who will have planned to spend Christmas with their families. “
Chelsea’s confidence was equally overwhelming and they posted a message reading: “Last season, 15. 2 million fans attended Premier League matches, a new record in the competition.
“Despite those excellent attendance figures, the Premier League has shown once again that it will put the demands of broadcasters before those of enthusiasts by breaking its own 28-year precedent and scheduling Wolves against Chelsea on Christmas Eve.
“Our message is clear – stop treating matchgoing supporters with total disrespect.”
The Football Fans Association said the call represented “a huge kick in the tooth for fans”, who had “the choice between going to the game or spending festive moments with their families”.
The Premier League met with both supporters’ teams, but kept the fixture as originally planned. Since then, Chelsea have shown that they will offer free gifts to fans who have bought a suitable ticket as the trains pass through the Christmas hustle and bustle.
Chelsea said: “We recognise the commitment of our supporters who attend matches and appreciate the unwavering loyalty they have to the team, whether at home or away.
“Therefore, as a token of gratitude to the enthusiasts who are making this Array, Chelsea Football Club will be providing one free of charge as a gesture of goodwill to anyone who purchases a ticket. ”
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For those not travelling to Molineux, the match will be live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League. You can watch over 500 live football matches this season, so find out more about Sky Sports’ deals here.
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