Opinion

The BBC Sport neutrals have been debating the fact that there will be only one Premier League match that will be played on Boxing Day AND that this one Friday game will be Manchester United v Newcastle United to be played at 8pm.

A Premier League statement on Friday justifying this as follows…

“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.

“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.”

The Football Supporters’ Association responding to the Premier explanation/justification…

“The Premier League’s TV selections for [Christmas and New Year] have finally been announced a fortnight after they were supposed to be. Newcastle’s game at Old Trafford...