Boxing Day, a long-held tradition for Premier League fans, may look drastically different this year, with reports suggesting that only one match will be played on December 26. This marks a significant departure from the usual full slate of festive fixtures and could disappoint many supporters who look forward to post-Christmas football.
The change is primarily due to the congested football calendar. The Premier League is contractually obligated to deliver 33 weekends of matches to broadcasters and only five midweek rounds. With Boxing Day falling on a Friday this year, the league may treat it as a standard Friday, featuring only one televised game. The remaining matches would likely be spread across the weekend of December 27 and 28.
Several factors have contributed to the scheduling pressure. The expansion of UEFA competitions and the FA Cup now being played exclusively on weekends have reduced available dates. Scrapping FA Cup replays has also factored into the changes.
While a final decision is still pending, sources indicate that a reversal is unlikely. The Premier League had planned to announce the December and January televised matches in mid-October, but the announcement is yet to be made. There is currently no word on which match will be selected for the Boxing Day broadcast.
In contrast to the Premier League, the English Football League (EFL) is expected to maintain its tradition of a full schedule of matches across the Championship, League One, and League Two on Boxing Day.
Historically, Boxing Day football has been a staple of the English game since 1888, with top-flight matches even taking place on Christmas Day until 1965. The last time Boxing Day fell on a Friday, in 2014, a full Premier League fixture list was still played. The league anticipates a return to the normal schedule next year, as Boxing Day will fall on a Saturday.
The potential reduction in Boxing Day fixtures is likely to be a controversial move, as the Premier League is arguably the most-watched football league in the world. Many fans of clubs like Manchester United, Chelsea, and Arsenal may feel deprived of their annual Boxing Day football experience.
