According to The Express and Star, Chelsea could play their Premier League away game against Wolverhampton Wanderers on Christmas Eve as this date has been taken into consideration.
It’s been nearly three decades since top-tier football last played on December 24, 1995. Nevertheless, reports suggest that at least one football match may be rescheduled for Christmas Eve this year.
Traditionally, football matches take place during the weekend before Christmas, as well as around Boxing Day, New Year’s Eve, and New Year’s Day.
This year’s football schedule is facing complications due to Christmas Day falling on a Monday. This has put pressure on the traditional match schedule during the festive season.
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The Wolves’ match against Chelsea is being considered for a possible change because Christmas Eve falls on a Sunday. While nothing is confirmed, the authorities are looking at a 1:00 p.m. kick-off time if the plan goes through.
This potential scheduling change also raises questions about whether this game will be the only one to have its date altered, as the current schedule has it slated for a 3:00 p.m. kick-off on December 23.
The decision to reschedule the match is primarily motivated by television broadcasting rights and is likely to be met with some resistance from Chelsea fans.
The prospect of travelling from London to Wolverhampton on Christmas Eve, especially considering the unpredictable winter weather, presents a significant challenge.
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The final Christmas fixture schedule is expected to be announced soon and is likely to provoke mixed reactions. If the Wolves versus Chelsea match is given the green light, it could affect the Midlands club’s next fixtures against Brentford and Everton.
There were discussions about playing matches on Christmas Day in 2017, but these were abandoned due to concerns about travel and logistical issues.
