Premier League urged to reschedule matches to be held on Christmas Eve

Voices have been raised from multiple quarters including MP Tom Watson's who wrote a letter raising concerns to the League's chief officer Richard Scudamore

Premier League
Premier League Reuters

The Premier League has been urged to reconsider reported proposals to stage matches on Christmas Eve.

Tom Watson MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, has written to the league's chief executive Richard Scudamore, according to the BBC.

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Reports suggest Leicester v Manchester United, Arsenal-Liverpool and West Ham-Newcastle could be moved for live TV.

Watson writes that he is concerned fans will be "forced to choose between their loved ones and their team".

The Labour MP's letter to Scudamore, obtained by BBC Sport, adds: "There's a real danger that some travelling fans would not be able to get home until the early hours of Christmas Day, whilst hundreds of stadium staff and workers would be expected to work rather than spending time with their families at this time of year.

"I accept that televised football on a Sunday, and over the Christmas period in guise of Boxing Day fixtures are a well-established part of the football calendar but I urge you to recognise the concerns of fans, staff and families."

The Premier League has declined to comment on the letter because it has not yet received it.

But the organisation did tell BBC Sport that the process for selecting fixtures for live broadcast over the Christmas period is not complete, and they will update supporters as soon as possible.

The Premier League is set to announce the televised Christmas fixtures in the week beginning 16 October.

Chelsea have offered their support to fans who are campaigning to stop Sky from scheduling televised Premier League matches on Christmas Eve, as per the Standard.

Liverpool's visit to Arsenal is believed to be the broadcaster's first-choice game despite the travel chaos it would pose for visiting fans. However Sky's plans could be derailed if the Gunners are unable to guarantee the required number of stewards for a game to earn a safety certificate.

Chelsea are scheduled to face Everton on December 23 and their fans could face the same difficulties Liverpool supporters fear if Sky were to move their match.

A statement from Chelsea said: "The Chelsea Supporters Trust wrote to the club this week expressing its objections to fixtures being scheduled to be played on Christmas Eve, an idea they are opposed to 'due to the inherent travel difficulties and disruption to what is regarded as sacrosanct family time'.

"The club is sympathetic to our supporters' objections and it is a subject we have raised with the Premier League."

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