Alan Shearer has hit out at the decision to schedule just one Premier League game on Boxing Day this year – as the former Newcastle man asks: ‘What is the world coming to?’
In years gone by Boxing Day has been the favourite day of the footballing calendar, with fans across the country tucking into their festive leftovers as a day of action unfolds.
But the Premier League sparked outrage when it revealed that Manchester United’s 8pm clash against Bournemouth on Friday would be the league’s only clash to take place on the day after Christmas this year.
And the league’s all-time top scorer is among those left reeling at the announcement.
‘I can’t believe there is only one game on Boxing Day,’ Shearer told Betfair. ‘I would be lost without football over the festive period
‘I can’t remember the last Boxing Day I had off. Even now, I always worked on Boxing Day. I carried that on even when I finished, volunteering for Match of the Day. But for God knows how long, I’m not working on Boxing Day. I’m on the 27th but not Boxing Day. It seems mad that there’s only one game on Boxing Day; that feels really strange.
Alan Shearer has hit out at the decision to have one televised Premier League Boxing Day game
The decision sparked outrage among festive football fans – leaving them feeling like the Grinch
Boxing Day has been a festive favourite in years gone by with packed schedules of football
‘What’s the world coming to? The rest of Europe like Germany and Spain are off having a break. But all my life, all I’ve ever known is sport in and around Boxing Day. It’s amazing there’s only one match.
‘The big thing in this country is sport on Boxing Day. There are usually so many matches in and around this period. I think I’d be lost without it. God knows what it would be like if there wasn’t one.’
Boxing Day has thrown up some of the greatest moments in Premier League history, with famous schedules packed with football from the start of the day until the end.
But Premier League fans will have to wait until Saturday for more action, with two matches scheduled for television broadcast. First, Man City travel to Nottingham Forest at 12.30pm, before Chelsea host high-flying Aston Villa.
‘[We] would like to acknowledge the circumstances that have led to a reduced number of matches on Boxing Day this season – impacting an important tradition in English football,’ The Premier League said in a statement.
‘There are now several challenges to Premier League fixture scheduling rooted in the expansion of European club competitions – which led to a revision of our domestic calendar ahead of last season, including changes to the FA Cup. This ultimately left the Premier League as a 33-weekend competition – fewer than previous seasons, despite being a 380-match competition since 1995.
‘With fewer weekends to work with, the League is bound by how the calendar falls. The League can give an assurance that next season there will be more Premier League matches on Boxing Day – as the date falls on a Saturday.’
The return of Boxing Day football next season will come as a delight to many fans.
Shearer says the festive period was his favourite time as a player because he scored lots goals
‘I loved the Christmas period as a player,’ Shearer continued. ‘I saw a stat on Saturday that December was my second-best month for goals. I loved this period because you can’t really train much; you’re playing and recovering. I loved how hectic and busy it was.
‘All managers do it differently. Some give you Christmas Day off totally. Some have you train in the morning or afternoon. Kenny Dalglish at Blackburn gave us Christmas Day off, while Sir Bobby Robson had us in on Christmas morning. I absolutely loved this period just because of the number of games.
‘I was slightly fortunate with my Christmas dinner. I didn’t overindulge anyway, but I could still have the full trappings minus the alcohol. I could still eat what I wanted for a Christmas lunch. It didn’t really affect me that much, so I’m one of the lucky ones who got away with it.
‘I’ve got good and bad memories of Christmas. In my first season at Blackburn, I was sat on 22 goals on Boxing Day, and unfortunately, I ruptured my cruciate ligament. I scored two against Leeds at Ewood Park, and ten minutes later, I went through in a challenge and did my knee. But I remember many times scoring lots of goals on Boxing Day. I just felt good in and around this period.’
