Sunday football in October due to TV coverage
AFC Wimbledon’s match at Oxford United has been selected for live TV coverage by Sky Sports and it will therefore take place on Sunday 9 October (12.15 pm kick-off).
This game at the Kassam Stadium had been scheduled to take place a day earlier on the Saturday.
automatic spot and Neal Ardley’s men going up in style at Wembley. It will pitch together two sides promoted from League 2 last season with Oxford having earned an
The picture above shows Jon Meades getting in a tackle against his old club in last season's fixture at Oxford.
In announcing the live TV games for the Autumn and Winter, the English Football League made a joint commitment with Sky Sports to ensure all of its clubs are given at least five weeks’ notice ahead of any matches selected for live television coverage.
Furthermore, the EFL will then commit to publicly announcing any fixture changes within three working days in order to give EFL supporters as much time as is possible to allow for any alterations to travel plans that may be required.
If both the EFL and Sky Sports are unable to meet this timeframe then the clubs involved have the ability to choose not to be broadcast live on television. However, if both clubs mutually agree to the rescheduling of the fixture within this five-week period then the game will be played on the new date.
Throughout the course of season 2016/17, 92 Sky Bet Championship fixtures will be screened exclusively live on Sky Sports, along with 20 games from Sky Bet League One and Sky Bet League Two.
EFL Chief Executive Shaun Harvey said: “This is an extremely important issue for fans up and down the country, one we understand and we will always seek to give fans as much notice as we can in respect of fixtures that are requested to be shown live on television as part of the broadcast contract.
“Sky Sports has invested significantly in our competition, helping clubs bring through improved facilities and better players on the pitch so while we are conscious of the impact scheduling matches for television coverage can have, there is a balance to strike.
“We want as many people to enjoy the EFL as possible; in the stadiums, at home or watching in the pub. We look forward to working together on the five-week commitment and other initiatives over the course of the next 10 months, in what is shaping up to be yet another exciting season in the EFL.”
In addition to moving fixtures for TV, games can still be rearranged at short notice if players are called up to their respective international sides. Under current EFL rules, if three players from a first team squad are selected by their national team for a competitive or friendly match on a FIFA international match calendar date, clubs have the right to postpone and reschedule.