Why is there one Premier League game on Boxing Day? Controversial decision explained
The Premier League have broken from tradition...
Boxing Day football is a British institution. It is an iconic date in the sporting calendar and one that has become synonymous with the beautiful game.
Whether you're donning a hat and scarf to join the thousands in the terraces, heading down to the pub to toast the festive period, or just settling in with leftovers and the TV on, football will have a place in the plans of so many up and down the country on the 26th of December.
Last year, there were eight televised Premier League fixtures available for fans on Boxing Day 2024 – starting with the lunchtime kick-off between Manchester City and Everton and running all the way through to Liverpool v Leicester City at 8pm – but the top-flight schedule looks a little bit different this year.
Indeed, Manchester United v Newcastle United (Sky Sports, 8pm) is the only Premier League fixture on Boxing Day. It's a break from tradition and one that is not likely to be popular among match-going supporters or those watching from home.
RadioTimes.com breaks down why there is only one Premier League game on Boxing Day.
Why is there one Premier League game on Boxing Day?
According to the Premier League, the reduced offering on Boxing Day is a result of the changes to the domestic calendar following the expansion of European club competitions.
With more games than ever in the Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League, and due to changes made to the FA Cup schedule, the 2025/26 top-flight season is played across 33 weekends. That is fewer than previous seasons and that means the Premier League is "bound by how the calendar falls".
As part of the TV deal, the Premier League has a duty to broadcasters to fulfil fixtures across all 33 of those weekends and, therefore, moving matches is difficult.
Boxing Day falls on a Friday this year, with seven top-flight fixtures on Saturday 28th December – five of which will be unavailable on TV due to the Saturday 3pm blackout – and two on Sunday 29th December.
Player welfare is also a concern and the Premier League has made a commitment to clubs to "allow greater time for players to recover with the rest periods between rounds 18, 19 and 20 being increased to ensure that no club plays within 60 hours of another match."
The good news for the purists is that the Premier League has assured fans that there will be more games on Boxing Day next year, as it falls on a Saturday.
Is there other football on TV on Boxing Day?
Yes. All is not lost football fans, there is still plenty of action to sink your teeth into while you enjoy the post-Christmas festivities.
There is a full slate of fixtures across the three EFL divisions on Boxing Day, with all 36 of the Championship, League One, and League Two matches available to watch live via Sky Sports.
All 24 National League teams will be in action as well, with coverage on DAZN, while there is a feast of football from the Africa Cup of Nations – with four matches from the tournament on Channel 4 and 4Seven throughout the day.
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