Fixture Scheduling Mysteries in the Premier League

Eagle-eyed supporters of Premier League clubs may have noticed that their teams are facing opponents this midweek that they have already encountered earlier in the season.

At this point in the campaign, each team will still have one opponent they have yet to meet. For instance, Aston Villa is set to face league leaders Arsenal for the second time in the first half of the season, despite not having played against Nottingham Forest yet.

This peculiar scheduling has left Villa’s manager, Unai Emery, perplexed.

“This is the first time in my 20-year coaching career that we are concluding the first part of the season without having faced all 19 teams,” he remarked.

“I do not understand why this is the case. This is the only issue on my mind that I cannot fathom, but I accept it nonetheless.”

Damian Vidagany, the director of football at Aston Villa, has suggested that there may be a bias in the fixture scheduling, labeling it as a “mystery.”

“I inquired about this, but I received no clear answers,” he stated in a post on X. “It remains a mystery. This situation, whether intentional or not, seems to favor certain clubs by reducing travel during this busy Christmas period.

“I encourage you to observe which clubs are playing at home in both their last and next matches. It is unacceptable for us to play two away matches in less than 72 hours. Certainly, it would be more advantageous for recovery to have two home games without the need to travel.

“We certainly do not wield any influence in this matter. It would be a disgrace if fixture scheduling were to become a political issue,” he added.

Premier League teams will instead play the remaining opponent they have not faced during the weekend of round 20. This scheduling approach is designed to create a balanced home and away fixture sequence throughout the season.

The Premier League maintains regular communication with clubs regarding scheduling and accommodates various date requests that may arise.

Quick reversals of fixtures have occurred in previous seasons; for example, in the 2021-22 season, Villa played away at Chelsea in round four and then met the Blues again at home in round 19.

While there is no rule against such occurrences in the Premier League’s competition regulations, the league strives to ensure that if a team is not at home on Boxing Day (round 18), they will not be away during the New Year’s fixture (round 20).

The fixture list is compiled once the competition dates and international commitments are established.

Representatives from fans, clubs, stakeholders, and authorities are consulted to determine any dates on which games should be avoided.

For instance, Manchester United may request not to host a match in August when a Test cricket match coincides at Old Trafford cricket ground. Furthermore, clubs can make requests to avoid playing against specific teams on Boxing Day, as the Premier League aims to minimize travel distances for away teams on December 26 and January 1.

Special thanks to Craig in Glasgow and Phil in southwest London for their inquiries.

This article is the latest contribution from BBC Sport’s Ask Me Anything team.