Chelsea fans have initiated a vocal campaign against their scheduled Christmas Eve clash with Wolves, expressing their discontent to league authorities with a strong message of ‘Get Stuffed’. This fixture marks the first English top-flight match on December 24 in the 21st century, with the previous one occurring nearly three decades ago.
However, instead of being embraced as a festive treat, this idea has sparked widespread outrage among Chelsea supporters, who are frustrated about the proximity of this northern trip to Christmas. Fans face a grueling round trip of approximately 260 miles to Molineux on Sunday, compounded by limited public transport due to strikes and seasonal service suspensions.
Although Chelsea has generously offered free coach services to away fans who purchased tickets, the fury over this sudden return of Christmas Eve football remains palpable. While the Premier League has announced the 2024/25 season dates, confirming the absence of a game on December 24 next season to allow clubs more Christmas rest, the Chelsea Supporters’ Trust continues to protest the fixture.
The Trust has conveyed a firm message to football authorities, emphasizing their identity as ‘supporters, not customers’. Banners were displayed outside the Premier League offices and Sky TV broadcasters, underscoring the disappointment with the prioritization of broadcaster demands over match-going supporters’ interests.
In their statement, the supporter group highlighted the league’s record-breaking attendance figures but criticized the Premier League for favoring broadcaster requirements over supporter concerns. The Trust urged the league, particularly CEO Richard Masters, to uphold meaningful engagement and consultation with supporters on crucial club-related matters.
The Trust’s spokesperson emphasized the pivotal role of match-going supporters in football’s essence, warning against treating them with disregard. The protest’s underlying message aimed to prevent stadiums from becoming lifeless and devoid of passion, highlighting the need for respect towards match-going supporters.
Ultimately, this outcry from fans appears to have made an impact, influencing the Premier League’s decision not to persist with the Christmas Eve experiment into the following season.