This year only one game will be played on December 26 instead of the usual Premier League\u2019s Christmas schedule
\n LONDON
\nPremier League chiefs have blamed the reduction of Boxing Day matches this season on the expansion of European competitions.
\nFixtures on December 26 have been a traditional part of the Premier League\u2019s Christmas schedule, but this year only one game will be played when Manchester United host Newcastle.
\nWith Boxing Day falling on a Friday, the Premier League will instead play seven games on Saturday, December 27 and two on Sunday, December 28.
\nAware that the lack of action on Boxing Day will prompt complaints from football traditionalists, the Premier League was quick to lay the blame on UEFA.
\nEuropean football\u2019s governing body has overseen increases in the number of clubs competing in the Champions League, Europa League and Conference League.
\n\u201cThe Premier League would like to acknowledge the circumstances that have led to a reduced number of matches on Boxing Day this season\u2013impacting an important tradition in English football,\u201d the Premier League said in a statement on Friday.
\n\u201cThere are now several challenges to Premier League fixture scheduling rooted in the expansion of European club competitions\u2013which led to a revision of our domestic calendar ahead of last season, including changes to the FA Cup.
\n\u201cThis ultimately left the Premier League as a 33-weekend competition\u2013fewer than previous seasons, despite being a 380-match competition since 1995.
\n\u201cWith fewer weekends to work with, the league is bound by how the calendar falls.\u201d
\nUEFA\u2019s European competitions now stretch across 10 midweek matchdays rather than six, with the Premier League having to adapt its schedule around the increased continental action.
\nConcerns over player welfare after the extra games were added led to world football\u2019s governing body FIFA saying there should be a minimum rest period of 72 hours between matches.
\n\u201cAs with previous years\u2013and in keeping with our commitment to clubs\u2013special arrangements have been made to allow more time between games played across the festive period,\u201d the Premier League said.
\n\u201cThis will allow greater time for players to recover, with the rest periods between rounds 18, 19 and 20 being increased to ensure that no club plays within 60 hours of another match.\u201d
\nThe Premier League plans to return to a bumper festive schedule on Boxing Day next year.
\n\u201cThe League can give an assurance that next season there will be more Premier League matches on Boxing Day\u2013as the date falls on a Saturday,\u201d the statement said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
This year only one game will be played on December 26 instead of the usual Premier League\u2019s Christmas schedule LONDON Premier League chiefs have blamed the reduction of Boxing Day matches this season on the expansion of European competitions. Fixtures on December 26 have been a traditional part of the Premier League\u2019s Christmas schedule, but […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-512158","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-sports"},"yoast_head":"\n