In a significant departure from long-standing tradition, Daily Mail Sport has exclusively revealed that there will be no Premier League or Championship football matches scheduled for the upcoming Easter period. This decision is poised to provoke widespread discontent among supporters and clubs alike.
FIFA's Calendar Adjustment Sparks Controversy
Sources close to the matter have disclosed that FIFA has unilaterally shifted the international break to encompass both Good Friday and Easter Monday. This move effectively sidelines the top two tiers of English football during a time when matches have been a cherished staple for over a century.
Typically, the Premier League hosts one round of fixtures over Easter, while the Championship stages two matches. However, with the new schedule, both leagues will be out of action, and other games across the English Football League (EFL) are also likely to be impacted.
Detailed Schedule Changes for Next Season
According to details obtained by this newspaper, the international break for the next season will commence after the fixtures on March 20. It will span across Good Friday on March 26 and Easter Monday on March 29, with domestic fixtures resuming on April 3 for the FA Cup quarter-finals.
The majority of international games are expected to be scheduled for the Saturday and Tuesday within this break. Insiders report that domestic leagues were not consulted by FIFA regarding this calendar change, which comes amid increasing fixture pressures globally.
Historical Context and Additional Adjustments
Easter football has deep roots in English history, with the first Easter Saturday match taking place in 1889 and top-flight games on Easter Monday beginning in 1892. Since 2012, Premier League clubs have played once over the weekend, while EFL clubs typically play twice.
Clubs in Leagues One and Two that do not lose many players to international duty may still proceed with matches, but the overall disruption is significant. Additionally, it has been confirmed that the EFL season will start with the Carabao Cup first round on August 8, rather than a week earlier, with league games kicking off on August 15 and the Premier League beginning on August 22.
Boxing Day falls on a Saturday next season, making it unlikely to repeat this season's scenario where only one Premier League match was staged on the traditional Christmas slot. FIFA has been contacted for comment but has not yet responded to inquiries about these changes.
