Get ready for a football-free Easter! Daily Mail Sport has the scoop: there will be no Premier League or Championship matches during the upcoming Easter weekend. This bold move by FIFA is sure to spark controversy and outrage among fans.
FIFA's decision to schedule an international break that includes Good Friday and Easter Monday means no football action for the top two tiers of English football. This break will also impact other EFL games, disrupting the usual flow of the season.
But here's where it gets interesting: this isn't the first time Easter football has faced challenges. The tradition of Easter matches dates back over a century, with the first Easter Saturday match in 1889 and top-flight games on Easter Monday beginning in 1892. However, the format has evolved, with Premier League clubs now playing only once over the weekend since 2012, while EFL clubs and those in Leagues One and Two still play twice.
This season, the FA Cup quarter-finals will take center stage over Easter, with Championship fixtures also scheduled. And here's the part most people miss: the EFL season will start with the Carabao Cup, but with a twist - matches will be played on August 8, not a week earlier as previously reported.
As for Boxing Day, it falls on a Saturday, so no repeat of this season's limited Premier League action. Instead, expect a full weekend of games to make up for it.
FIFA's decision to merge international breaks and disrupt domestic leagues has sparked debate. Were domestic leagues consulted? How will this impact fixture congestion? These are questions that remain unanswered.
What do you think about FIFA's decision? Is it a necessary evil to ease fixture pressures, or a disrespect to football traditions? Let us know in the comments!
