Boxing Day has long been the spiritual home of English football, traditionally featuring a full slate of fixtures that provide a centerpiece for the festive period.
However, 2025 has seen a dramatic departure from this custom, with only Manchester United v Newcastle taking place today. The move has sparked a wider debate about the welfare of players and the commercialization of the sport.
The Premier League issued a statement today acknowledging the frustration of supporters but cited several “insurmountable” challenges that led to the decision to redistribute the Matchday 18 schedule across the weekend.
The primary factor behind the change is the expansion of UEFA club competitions. With more midweek European games added to the calendar, the domestic schedule has become increasingly compressed.
Officials noted that the 2025-26 season features only 33 available weekends compared to the usual 35 or 36, despite the total number of matches remaining at 380.
This has left less flexibility for festive kick-offs, particularly when factoring in the requirements of the new domestic television rights agreement.
Under the current deal, every match must be fully televised, which often requires staggering games to maximize viewership across multiple days rather than clumping them together on a single holiday.
Despite the league’s explanation, fan groups have criticized the move, arguing that it ignores the travel difficulties and traditions of match-going supporters.
Seven matches have been moved to Saturday, with two more on Sunday, effectively turning Boxing Day into a single-game event.
Some managers have also weighed in, with Eddie Howe suggesting that while the extra rest is beneficial for players, the “magic of the day” is somewhat diminished when the schedule is so sparse.
The Premier League has sought to reassure fans that this is an exceptional circumstance caused by the way the calendar falls in 2025, promising a return to a fuller Boxing Day program in 2026.