Boxing Day Reduced to One Match; Schedule Shifted

The Premier League announced it will stage only one match on Boxing Day 2025 — Manchester United v Newcastle at Old Trafford (20:00 GMT) — with the remainder of the gameweek moved to the weekend of Dec 27–28 and a stacked midweek programme between Dec 30 and Jan 1 to satisfy broadcast commitments. League officials said the change is driven by expanded European competitions and a reworked FA Cup calendar that have left the Premier League operating as a 33‑weekend competition, constraining fixture planning. Broadcasters have picked high‑profile fixtures and adjusted kick‑off times, leaving clubs such as Chelsea with a congested December (home v Aston Villa on Dec 27 and Bournemouth on Dec 30) and early‑January rearrangements (at Man City on Jan 4 and at Fulham on Jan 7). The league has introduced a minimum 60‑hour rest period between matches to address player welfare amid the tighter schedule. Fans and media criticized the break with Boxing Day tradition, and the Premier League said a fuller Boxing Day schedule should return when the date falls on a weekend next season.