AliousAn Everton F.C. supporter, Steve Zocek, has strongly criticised television broadcasters after the club’s away match against Arsenal F.C. was rescheduled for a second time with only 15 days’ notice, despite already having been moved once before.
The Premier League clash at the Emirates Stadium was initially scheduled for a traditional 3pm kick-off on Saturday, March 14. In late January, however, the fixture was shifted to a 2pm slot on Sunday, March 15, for broadcast on Sky Sports.
That adjustment led many supporters, including Zocek, to organise travel arrangements. But following Arsenal’s UEFA Champions League round-of-16 second leg against Bayer 04 Leverkusen being scheduled for Tuesday, March 17, the league made another change. On Friday, February 27, Everton’s visit to Arsenal was moved back to Saturday, March 14, this time for a 5:30pm television slot on Sky Sports.
The reshuffle has created a crowded broadcast schedule. Two matches — Chelsea F.C. versus Newcastle United F.C. and Arsenal against Everton — will now kick off simultaneously at 5:30pm on Sky Sports. Meanwhile, West Ham United F.C. host Manchester City F.C. at 8pm on Saturday on TNT Sports. Sunday will feature three games at 2pm — Crystal Palace F.C. vs Leeds United F.C., Manchester United F.C. vs Aston Villa F.C., and Nottingham Forest F.C. vs Fulham F.C. — all broadcast on Sky Sports.
According to reports, officials connected to Everton’s new Hill Dickinson Stadium strongly opposed the idea of an 8pm kick-off, which helped lead to the 5:30pm compromise.
For Zocek, who lives in Burtonwood and has supported Everton for around 60 years, the repeated changes have become too much to tolerate. A prolific author of Everton books such as Kendall’s Glory Years, Goodison Memories, and For The Boys In The Royal Blue Jersey, he believes match-going fans are being ignored.
Speaking to the Liverpool ECHO, Zocek described the decision as “disgraceful,” arguing that altering both the date and kick-off time twice within a short period — after fans had already made plans — shows little respect for those attending games in person.
He said that while younger supporters who grew up in the modern Premier League era may be used to such changes, long-time followers like himself are frustrated by how frequently television coverage dictates the schedule.
Zocek also pointed out that many supporters have lost money after being forced to cancel travel arrangements, including his own train bookings. He added that he had written directly to Sky Sports to express his frustration, reminding the broadcaster that supporters were following their clubs long before live television coverage became the norm.
In his view, the modern game increasingly prioritises viewers watching from home — whether through paid subscriptions or unofficial streams — over fans who attend matches in person.
Although broadcasters often emphasise the importance of the atmosphere created by supporters inside stadiums, Zocek believes the reality is very different. He argues that, in today’s football landscape, match-going fans are treated more like background extras for television — and warns that decisions like these are damaging the sport.
Alious
