3rd November 2025
November 2 – Boxing Day football is a tradition like no other in England, a high point in the English football calendar and a special day of community, mutual support and hope for a year to come. Except it won’t be this year in the Premier League where only one match will take place.
The Premier League has confirmed that Manchester United will host Newcastle United at Old Trafford at 8pm.
The Premier League was quick to shift the blame, saying the expansion of European competitions and fixture congestion has reduced the number of weekend windows, but when Boxing Day has been part of the fabric of English football since the 19th century, it feels like more effort could’ve been put into the decision-making process with input from supporters.
“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,” the League said. Adding: “With fewer weekends available, fixture planning has become increasingly constrained.”
Football once belonged to the terraces, but increasingly the television studios call the shots. When the fixtures start bending to business and broadcast rights, you can be sure that great sporting traditions will be manipulated and repackaged.
For many fans of Premier League clubs, the traditional bedrock of their existence, the Christmas worship has been sacrificed on the Premier League’s alter of disappointing self-interest, proving that in football nothing is sacred for those who gain power.
The good news for English football fans is that the EFL will be operating a full slate Boxing Day fixtures with probably some room in some grounds for the Premier League’s spurned fans looking for some traditional football authenticity and community.
There is an old advertising agency phrase – ‘Act global, think local’. Not much local thinking in the Premier League’s moneyed elite.
Contact the writer of this story at [moc.l1762138847labto1762138847ofdlr1762138847owedi1762138847sni@n1762138847osloh1762138847cin.l1762138847uap1762138847](javascript:;)