Manchester United have three 8pm kick-offs in a row when they return to action on Monday, April 13 at home to Leeds.
05:00, 10 Apr 2026
Manchester United fans arriving at Old Trafford for an evening kick-off against West Ham this season(Image: Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
A moment every supporter looks forward to is when their team’s fixture list for the new campaign is confirmed. It is seen as a milestone in the build-up to a fresh season and should be an opportunity for fans to make arrangements.
However, supporters are always left staring at asterisks next to fixtures with the dreaded words ‘subject to change’ alongside them. Manchester United fans have been impacted more than most this season as the perfect storm of the club’s stature and lack of European and domestic cup football meant a wrath of unsociable kick-off times.
When the Premier League returns next week, United will begin a string of 8pm kick-offs. Two of which, at home to Leeds and Brentford, will be played on a Monday, while the third is away at Chelsea on a Saturday night.
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Last month, the Football Supporters’ Association (FSA) found United had been picked for six ‘Monday Night Football’ fixtures this season. This was more than any other Premier League club, bar Everton. It is understood teams are meant to have no more than five fixtures in the Monday and Friday night slots combined.
Speaking to MEN Sport, Manchester United Supporters’ Trust CEO Duncan Drasdo explained the impact these dreaded kick-off times are having on fans. “When we are away fans, it is particularly difficult because there is often no public transport option home,” he explained.
“For United fans, we have had that a few times this season. You have the expense of staying over and missing another day’s work which has a big impact on supporters.
“For home games, I think it ruins the event. People look forward to having a Saturday 3pm kick-off and that’s part of their weekend.
“Then to switch it to a Monday night is deflating in terms of the atmosphere. For younger fans of school age, it is a problem having midweek evening kick-offs as it finishes too late for anyone travelling any distance. I find it spoils the atmosphere.”
Drasdo and United supporters understand there are a lot of external factors that can alter kick-off times. Games picked for 12.30pm on a Saturday have been moved to 8pm on a Sunday because of Europa League action – as witnessed last season for United’s trip to Fulham.
This season has also seen an unprecedented number of Premier League teams competing in Europe. At the start of the season, the top flight warned: “Owing to our clubs’ performances in Europe last season, a record nine Premier League teams will play in UEFA competitions in the 2025/26 season.
“While the Premier League celebrates this success, it will come with an impact on the scheduling of League matches. There is an increased likelihood of Premier League fixtures moving at relatively short notice, after our fixture announcements, should our clubs progress to the knockout rounds of these competitions.
“Supporters are asked to consider this when planning for Premier League fixtures, particularly when their club or opposition is playing in the latter stages of UEFA competitions.” But Drasdo believes there are ways the broadcasters and Premier League can minimise the impact on fans.
“I was in a meeting two or three months ago with the Premier League CEO Richard Masters and he gave the explanation that we all understand,” he said. “‘United not being in Europe is likely to be selected because there are so many teams in Europe from England, those that aren’t are likely to be selected.’ Manchester United are particularly appealing for broadcasters in terms of audience numbers so we are always going to be susceptible to that.
“Being back in Europe will solve the problem for us, to an extent, but what I asked for in the meeting is that they put this in the negotiations for the next broadcast contract. From what I understand, the limit for these clubs to be selected for these evening kick-offs multiple times is limited per package but not limited per time slot.
“So what you want is a limit that your club can be picked no more than five times for an 8pm kick-off on a weekday or Monday and I think that is what needs to be put into the contract. Once that contract is agreed, there isn’t anything the Premier League can do. That’s true. But they could do something about it at the point of the negotiation.”
There is a particular grievance among supporters when games are moved to Monday nights due to the impact it can have for those with work or school on a Tuesday. Public transport is also stretched for these kick-off times and Drasdo believes this is where the broadcasters should be footing the bill.
“The big increase in costs come from people who try to do these games via public transport and/or end up having to stay over,” he said. “I know a lot of our members have had to do that this season after accepting they are not going to get back on the night.
“If that’s on a Monday night, you are talking about taking an extra day off work which is a big expense. The club put on some buses for Bournemouth [on a Friday night] which was a good gesture.
“Surely though the money should be coming from the broadcasters to ensure there are convenient transport options. Whether that means they put on special trains… but I think if you are going to inconvenience supporters, you have got to address that.
“At the moment it feels like, once the deal is done, tough, and you have to suck it up.” One solution would be to lift the 3pm blackout rule in the UK.
Premier League broadcasters’ Spidercam captures the atmosphere at Old Trafford ahead of Manchester United vs Manchester City
This FA-backed law prevents broadcasters from showing matches live at 3pm on a Saturday. Its aim is to protect attendances in the lower leagues.
But while Drasdo would welcome that decision, he is not convinced it will solve all the problems. “The difficulty will be when the Premier League are negotiating the package, it is all about what delivers the biggest revenue,” he concluded.
“If broadcasters want to put on fixtures at a certain time, I don’t know, but it may suit an American market that time slot so we are always going to have that problem, because that is a big contributor to revenue now. I have been involved with those debates for many years with lower league clubs who are worried it will impact on their attendances. I am not entirely convinced about that evidence, to be honest.
“There may be some impact but I would be surprised if it is that significant. The solution is, you test it out and if there is a major impact you either compensate for it, or you don’t proceed with it.
“It would certainly help [lifting the blackout] and [changing from a Saturday 3pm kick-off] is one of the things we hear the most complaints about from fans.”
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