While the NBA and NFL stars are getting ready for Christmas Day action, the English Premier League stars are awaiting a warm Christmas dinner with their families. For the first time in 28 years, the Premier League is holding a match on Christmas Eve. Besides, the Boxing Day (December 26) schedule is as intense as it always has been. Despite all that, the Premier League is sticking on to its tradition of not hosting any matches on Christmas day. However, this was not always the case. Christmas Day matches were once played in the Premier League. Then, since when did the PL stop this practice?

It is not like the Premier League won’t ever give up its traditions. The Chelsea-Wolves match, which will be held on Christmas Eve, is a testament to that. However, if the league can hold a match on December 24, why can’t it hold it on December 25? Here is why.

Why does the Premier League not hold matches on Christmas Day?

Until the 1950s, every day, including Christmas Day, featured soccer action in the ‘English Football League’. Soon, in a move to ease the daytime schedule, the League introduced floodlights in the stadium and resorted to evening matches. However, this idea did not go well with the fans. Matches held on Christmas day in the 1957/58 season saw the fan attendance drop to significant lows. Stadiums were never jam-packed, as fans preferred to spend Christmas evenings with their families. Subsequently, the Christmas Day matches came to a hiatus after the Blackpool-Blackburn game in 1965.

The English Football League’s third division had tried to bring back the Christmas Day match tradition in the 1980s. However, fans protested and forced the schedule to be scrapped. Besides, in the past few seasons, fans, coaches, and even players don’t buy the idea of playing on Christmas. Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp once said it was taxing for players to feature in Boxing Day matches, immediately after Christmas. At this juncture, it is indeed wise for the Premier League to let a Christmas day be. Anyhow, certain soccer leagues around the world do not give a day off on Christmas.

Leagues that hold matches on Christmas day

There is no soccer on Christmas day in Europe. But certain leagues from other parts beg to differ. Largely non-Christian countries such as Turkey, Algeria, Egypt, Iran, and Thailand have scheduled respective league matches on Christmas day. Besides, Northern Ireland will host the famous Steel and Sons Cup final between Crumlin Star and Comber Rec on December 25, 2023 Meanwhile, Bolivia, despite boasting a huge Catholic population, had famously held league matches on Christmas in 2019.

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This time, the Premier League surprised fans with a Christmas Eve match. Perhaps, someday in the future, the league could bring back a tradition that they lost in the 1960s. Much like the NFL and the NBA, the PL might also host a Christmas match soon. Until then, Christmas is a holiday.

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