The Premier League has been urged to reconsider reported proposals to play matches on Christmas Eve.
Shadow Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport,Tom Watson MP, has written to the league’s chief executive Richard Scudamore.
Some reports have been saying Leicester v Manchester United, Arsenal-Liverpool and West Ham-Newcastle could be moved for live TV.
But Watsonis concerned fans will be “forced to choose between their loved ones and their team”.
The Labour MP’s letter to Scudamore, obtained by BBC Sport, adds: “There’s a real danger that some travelling fans would not be able to get home until the early hours of Christmas Day, whilst hundreds of stadium staff and workers would be expected to work rather than spending time with their families at this time of year.
“I accept that televised football on a Sunday, and over the Christmas period in guise of Boxing Day fixtures are a well-established part of the football calendar but I urge you to recognise the concerns of fans, staff and families.”
The Premier League has declined to comment on the letter because it has not yet received it.
But the organisation did tell BBC Sport that the process for selecting fixtures for live broadcast over the Christmas period is not complete, and they will update supporters as soon as possible.
Poor cash strapped PL . Disgusting proposal . The only decent thing that can happen is for PL and other leagues refuse to play . Forget the Money ; it’s Christmas for crying out loud .
People should be at home with Thier Families doing whatever they do but , together and divided by the Greed of TV companies . Even the Cameraman would prefer to be at home.
The TV companies would like to have Football live every day of the year – the way it’s going this will probably come about before too long.
Fans live in the Stadium are becoming less and less relevant. The TV money is so important to these ‘businesses’ that it will become sensible for Clubs to let the fans in for free, just to add a bit of atmosphere!
The next thing likely to go is the embargo on showing Football live at 3pm on a Saturday – it’s got to come!
These International breaks are so boring, it makes your mind wander!
Well I have to say I was looking forward to it. It makes a change to going shopping.