Darragh MacAnthony, the EFL club chairman, has reacted angrily to the complaints of Wolves and Chelsea supporters on the rescheduling of their holiday Premier League match.
Peterborough United chairman Darragh MacAnthony believes that football fans should become accustomed to rescheduled fixtures during the festive season as football modernizes and evolves. Even though he is not associated with Wolverhampton Wanderers or Chelsea, he has expressed his opinion on the decision that has resulted in these two clubs playing a Premier League match on Christmas Eve, breaking a 28-year tradition.
The response to this controversial date change has been intense, particularly from Chelsea supporters who feel that December 24th has long been overlooked in English football due to traditional family celebrations. Typically, football is enjoyed on Boxing Day. While MacAnthony strongly believes that the decision to play on Christmas Eve was a mistake, he thinks fans should stop complaining and accept it. He stated on talkSPORT, “If this is something they want to do, they’re going to do it. It’s a matter of personal choice. Fans, like players, have been asked to sacrifice time with their families to attend a game.”
MacAnthony anticipates that due to increased TV deals and the digitalization of football, this may become the new norm. He suggests that we may see more games on Christmas Eve and possibly even on Christmas Day, citing the example of NFL games in the United States, which are played on these holidays, including Thanksgiving. He views this as a matter of choice, not a mandatory decision, and emphasizes that fans can choose whether or not to attend these games. He concludes by highlighting the influence of money and the direction in which the world is heading, with players earning substantial weekly salaries, implying that this trend is likely to continue and potentially worsen.
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