Sky Sports and BT Sport have been stoking the ire of travelling football supporters for years by rescheduling games at inconvenient times to suit broadcast purposes for years, and tonight Liverpool supporter group Spirit of Shankly have released a statement in opposition to one of the maddest rejigs ever.
The Telegraph revealed earlier today that Sky are planning to show a Premier League game on Christmas Eve, given that it would fall under the remit of a "Super Sunday". Or Sunday, at least.
Arsenal/Liverpool is the flagship game in that particular round of fixtures, with the mooted kick-off time at 4pm. Under the current TV deal, Sky have the right to two picks on a Sunday, and were they to decide against showing Arsenal/Liverpool on Christmas Eve, they would essentially be losing one of the games they have paid so much for.
Here is the statement released by the Spirit of Shankly group this evening:
Late yesterday, Spirit Of Shankly were made aware that our away match at Arsenal, scheduled for 23rd December, was under consideration for a move to Christmas Eve. Earlier today we have had the same information relayed to us by other sources.
It is our understanding that Arsenal have been asked if they can staff such a fixture and the Metropolitan Police have been asked for their view. We hope that common sense will prevail and that both clubs, police, television companies and the Premier League decide against such a move.
Changing to Christmas Eve would have an untold impact on staff and supporters, particularly away supporters. Supporters would be faced with the prospect of getting home in the early hours of Christmas morning.
We are in the process of contacting the relevant personnel to make it clear that it would be completely unacceptable to expect supporters to travel back from the Capital at that time.
Like the corresponding fixture (where Euston station was closed for the Bank Holiday weekend) no thought was given to away supporters travelling to the match.
Only once before has a Premier League game been played on Christmas Eve: between Leeds United and Manchester United at Elland Road in 1995. That, however, was more feasible for the United supporters to attend: the game kicked off at midday, and the journey was much shorter.
