The Premier League will announce its Christmas fixture schedule today after Manchester United and other top-flight clubs pressed competition chiefs for an earlier decision to help fans plan holiday travel.
Timings for December matches are due to be made public more than a month earlier than last season. The move follows mounting pressure from clubs and match-going supporters seeking to avoid travel disruption over the festive period.
Manchester United, who play in the top division of English football at Old Trafford, were among the teams requesting that the league and television broadcasters bring the announcement forward. Club officials met directly with senior representatives from the Premier League and television networks to urge that attending supporters be looked after.
The Football Supporters Association, an independent national organisation representing football fans in England and Wales, is also understood to have taken part in discussions with league decision-makers and television executives.
Broadcaster selections and fixture changes
All Premier League fixtures are originally listed for 3:00pm on Saturdays. However, individual match dates and kick-off times are routinely altered after television networks decide which games they will broadcast live across the country.
Club leaders pushed for earlier clarity so supporters can organize travel, accommodation and family arrangements during a busy period for public transport. Well-placed sources said an official announcement detailing the festive fixture calendar is expected this afternoon.
Previous delays and scheduling history
The earlier announcement marks a significant change from last season, when the top flight originally stated it would confirm festive fixtures by October 15. That deadline passed without an announcement, leaving supporters in uncertainty as schedule changes remained unconfirmed.
Daily Mail Sport revealed on October 27 last season that calendar pressures driven by UEFA competition expansions meant only a single match would take place on Boxing Day. UEFA, the governing body of European football, expanded its continental club competitions, placing extra demands on domestic schedules.
The Premier League eventually published the fixture schedule on October 31 last season. Manchester United's home match against Newcastle United, who are based at St James' Park in North East England, was confirmed as the only game played on December 26, kicking off at 8:00pm.
Boxing Day falls on a Saturday this year, and a number of top-flight fixtures are expected to take place across the day as the festive schedule returns to a more traditional format.
