December 11th 2024.
Chelsea will have some extra time to rest and recover after their long journey in the Conference League this week. Their match against Brentford and Southampton's match against Tottenham will both start at the unusual time of 7pm on Sunday evening in the Premier League.
Usually, the final game of the weekend begins at 4.30pm, but this Sunday will be different. Manchester City will host Manchester United at 4.30pm at the Etihad Stadium, while Chelsea and Tottenham will play at 7pm. This change was made to allow both teams more time to rest after their matches in Europe on Thursday night.
Chelsea will be traveling to Kazakhstan for their Conference League game against Astana, which will kick off at 3.30pm on Thursday. This is due to the five-hour time difference. Similarly, Tottenham will be playing against Rangers in the Europa League on Thursday night and were also given the 7pm slot for their match on Sunday after it was selected for live broadcast by TNT Sports.
Typically, games broadcast by TNT Sports are scheduled for 12.30pm on Saturdays. However, due to Tottenham's Europa League commitments, the only available slot to avoid overlapping with Sky Sports' live fixtures was the Sunday 7pm slot. This unusual scheduling has been criticized by The Football Supporters' Association, who believe it is not convenient for fans, especially those with young children.
In fact, Tottenham's match against Southampton this weekend is not the only one scheduled for 7pm on a Sunday night. Manchester United will also play Fulham at 7pm on January 26, 2025, after requesting more recovery time following their Europa League game against Rangers at home on January 23.
The Football Supporters' Association has voiced their concerns about this scheduling, stating that the Sunday evening kick-off slot is not popular among fans. The limited public transport options and inconvenience for families with young children are major factors contributing to this unpopularity. They also believe that the Premier League prioritizes broadcasters by allowing them to choose "conditional" picks, which are then rescheduled when a team progresses in Europe. This results in frequent changes and uncertainty for fans.
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