Statement Regarding Late Fixture Changes

To Sky Sports, BT Sport and the Premier League,

On 21 January 2016, it was announced that the Premier League match between Arsenal and Leicester, originally scheduled to be played on Saturday 13 February has been moved to Sunday 14 February 12.00 GMT. This is less than four weeks’ notice.

We, the board of Arsenal FC Official Supporters’ Club Sweden, strongly object to this very short notice. We represent more than 6.000 supporters living in Sweden and many of our members are frequent visitors to the Emirates Stadium and spend considerable time and money on following the team. This latest change in the fixture list has left some members unable to travel at all, and others in a situation where they have to buy new flight tickets and extra accommodation at considerable expense. As a supporters’ club we find this totally unacceptable.

Our members are far from alone in being adversely affected by the lateness of this fixture change and we share the widespread anger amongst fans of all Premier League and Football League clubs affected by the total lack of respect shown for the match-going supporters. We have no objection to the actual rescheduling of games but we strongly object to the increasing lateness of rescheduling and call on the Premier League and the broadcasting companies to commit to announcing kick off times a minimum of six weeks ahead of fixtures.

Arsenal FC Official Supporters’ Club Sweden