'Ridiculous' television scheduling could cost us the title, fears Ferguson
Manchester City's free European weeks prompt United manager to launch pre-emptive strike
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Sir Alex Ferguson fears that Manchester United's challenge to wrest the Premier League title back from Manchester City in the second half of the season could be undermined by "ridiculous" television scheduling.
Having already acknowledged that City will benefit by having clear weeks instead of European games, he wants the TV companies to avoid scheduling United games for Saturday lunchtime kick-offs after an away game in Europe.
Assuming United progress past the first knockout stage of the Champions' League, they then immediately face weekend fixtures against City, Arsenal and Chelsea as well as a potential FA Cup semi-final. In one of the pre-emptive strikes of which he has become a master, United's manager said: "If you go back to the year we lost to Chelsea, we played away in Europe in midweek and then played a lunchtime game against Chelsea on the Saturday and they battered us. It was ridiculous, absolutely ridiculous. The biggest disadvantage will be television, because the demand for United will never weaken, and if they get us playing lunchtime on a Saturday after European games it's ridiculous. We tried to stop that but they control it, absolutely control it."
Sky Sports and the Premier League declined to comment but are understood to dispute the notion that clubs have no say in scheduling. They say the process is that TV companies make their selection of dates and kick-off times, which are then passed to the clubs, who can argue against them if they feel strongly enough. There are often other considerations, such as the police wanting high-profile fixtures to be at lunchtime rather than later in the day. Sunday afternoons, which are Sky's favoured slot, are also impossible if one of the teams are playing in the Champions' League the following Tuesday.
Today's Manchester derby will be on Sky with a 1.30pm kick-off as City aim to cut United's three-point lead over them at the top of the table.
Yesterday, third-placed Chelsea, seeking a first League win under Rafa Benitez before heading to Japan for the Club World Cup, beat Sunderland 3-1 at the Stadium of Light.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments