Premier League confirm first Christmas Eve match since 1995

Premier League football will be played on Christmas Eve for the first time in 28 years when Wolves host Chelsea at the Molineux Stadium, it was announced on Thursday.

The decision to reschedule the match, which was originally scheduled to be played on December 23 but was moved to December 24 for a 1 p.m. (GMT) kick-off, was criticized by Chelsea fans who branded it “a totally unacceptable.”

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The Chelsea Supporters’ Trust (CST) said supporters attending matches would face problems traveling to Wolves on a holiday weekend.

“It is completely unacceptable that Wolves v Chelsea is scheduled on Christmas Eve,” CST said in a statement.

“Not only could this lead to staffing problems at Molineux, but holiday travel times would further inconvenience supporters.”

CST added that they had requested a meeting with the Premier League on Tuesday and hoped to discuss the matter with the Wolves 1877 Supporters Trust and the Football Supporters’ Association (FSA).

Reuters has contacted the Premier League for comment.

“The Chelsea Supporters’ Trust will formally request the Premier League to properly consult supporters on this matter and reverse this decision,” the statement added.

The FSA said it was a “shocking agenda” by the Premier League, adding that it supported the confidence of supporters of both clubs in objecting to the Christmas Eve matches.

The Wolves Supporters Trust previously said the schedule showed a “complete lack of consideration and respect for the fans”.