Chelsea FC to Play on Christmas Eve for the First Time Since 1995
The Premier League has announced its fixture schedule for the Christmas period, and one particular match has drawn significant attention. Chelsea’s away game against Wolverhampton Wanderers has been scheduled for Christmas Eve, marking the first time a Premier League match will be played on this date since 1995.
According to the league’s broadcast selections, Wolves vs Chelsea will be broadcast on television at 1pm GMT on Sunday, December 24th. The last Christmas Eve game in the Premier League was Manchester United’s visit to Leeds United in 1995.
In addition to this fixture, Arsenal will travel to face Liverpool on December 23rd, while Manchester United will take on West Ham United at the London Stadium in the early kick-off. Manchester United’s home clash against Aston Villa has been moved to an 8pm GMT kick-off on Boxing Day, with Nottingham Forest traveling to Newcastle United for the early game.
Chelsea will then be in action three days later, on December 27th, when they host Crystal Palace at Stamford Bridge. On New Year’s Eve, Arsenal will travel to Craven Cottage to face Fulham in a London derby, and Tottenham Hotspur will host Bournemouth. Liverpool will play against Newcastle United at 8pm GMT on New Year’s Day.
However, the decision to schedule the Wolves vs Chelsea game on Christmas Eve has received widespread criticism. The Chelsea Supporters’ Trust (CST) called it “totally unacceptable,” citing potential staffing issues at Molineux and inconvenience for supporters due to holiday transport timetables.
The Football Supporters’ Association (FSA) also strongly opposed the scheduling, labeling it as “shocking.” They stood in solidarity with supporters’ trusts from both clubs and expressed disappointment over the Premier League’s disregard for match-goers’ concerns.
The Wolves supporters’ trust had previously criticized the scheduling, stating that it demonstrated a “complete lack of consideration and respect for fans.”
The fixture schedule for the Christmas and New Year period was also released, outlining the matches to be played. Several matches will be broadcast on various platforms, including Prime Video and Sky Sports.
The Premier League’s decision to schedule fixtures on Christmas Eve has sparked controversy and highlighted the ongoing debate over football’s place during the festive period.