Premier League Fixture Scheduling Raises Questions for Aston Villa
Sharp-eyed fans of Premier League clubs will notice that their team is facing an opponent this midweek that they have already encountered this season.
At this point in the campaign, each team still has one opponent they have yet to play.
Aston Villa will take on league leaders Arsenal for the second time in the first half of the season, while they have not yet faced Nottingham Forest.
This scheduling anomaly has puzzled Villa manager Unai Emery.
"This is the first time in my 20-year coaching career that we are finishing the first half of the season without playing against all 19 teams," he remarked. "I don’t understand why this is happening. It’s the only issue on my mind that I can't grasp. However, I accept it."
Damian Vidagany, Aston Villa's director of football, pointed out potential biases in fixture scheduling, describing it as "a mystery."
"I inquired about this, but I received no clear answers," he stated in a post on X. "This situation inadvertently favors certain clubs that are not traveling during this busy Christmas period. I encourage you to observe which clubs are playing at home for both the last and next matches. Playing two away games in less than 72 hours is never an excuse, but it is certainly more advantageous for recovery to play twice at home without the need for travel."
"We certainly have no influence over this situation. It would be disgraceful if fixture scheduling became a political issue," he added.
Premier League teams will play their remaining unplayed opponent during the weekend in round 20.
This scheduling approach is designed to create a more balanced home and away sequence throughout the season.
The Premier League maintains regular communication with clubs regarding scheduling and accommodates various date requests from teams.
In previous seasons, there have been quick reversals of fixtures. For instance, in the 2021-22 season, Villa played away at Chelsea in round four and faced them again at home in round 19.
While there is no rule against this in the Premier League's competition regulations, the league strives to ensure that if a team is away on Boxing Day, they will not be away on New Year’s Day.
How is the Premier League Fixture List Compiled?
The fixture list is created once the competition's playing dates and international fixtures are confirmed.
Consultations take place with fan representatives, clubs, stakeholders, and authorities to identify any dates on which games should not be scheduled.
For example, Manchester United may request not to play at home in August if a Test cricket match is occurring simultaneously at Old Trafford cricket ground.
Clubs can also request not to face specific teams on Boxing Day. The Premier League aims to minimize travel distances for away teams on December 26 and January 1.
Thanks to Craig in Glasgow and Phil in southwest London for their questions.
This article is part of BBC Sport's Ask Me Anything series.
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