MP urges PL to drop Christsmas Eve TV plan

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.