Premier League fixtures are usually randomly generated
The English Football Association (FA) have reportedly asked the Premier League not to schedule matches between the ‘Big Six’ teams on the weekend before the World Cup starts.
As reported by ESPN, the FA have asked that no games between Liverpool, Manchester City, Chelsea, Manchester United, Arsenal and Tottenham take place on the weekend of November 12 and 13, which is the league’s final set of games before the World Cup starts.
While top-flight matches are randomly generated through a system developed by Atos – a digital company used since the league was started in 1992 – fixtures can be subject to certain “golden rules.”
It includes ensuring that two clubs in close proximity in the same city – for example, Manchester City and Manchester United – don’t both play at home on the same day for policing reasons, and that no side plays more than two consecutive matches at home or away.
The report states that the FA believe it is reasonable to request that the ‘Big Six’ clubs don’t face each other on a one-off basis, given that the Qatar World Cup is taking place in the middle of the season.
While ESPN add that the Premier League have declined to comment, it is thought that they are considering the request.
England boss concerned about quick turnaround
Three Lions manager Gareth Southgate is concerned about the eight-day turnaround between the last league matches and the first round of games in Qatar.
England are due to play Iran in Doha on the opening day of the tournament on November 21, and Southgate, speaking in March, suggested it is ‘not the fault of the league’ that the World Cup is being played in winter.
“What would help is if we don’t get a derby or those sorts of ‘big six’ games,” he said at the time.
“But it’s not the fault of the League the World Cup is being held in the winter.”
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