The Premier League Received A Request For Game To Be Postponed

The Premier League received an official request from West Brom to postpone their upcoming game against West Ham this evening.

As we know, the fixture list over the Christmas period can get a bit crazy, with games coming thick and fast.

And the Baggies complained about the arrangement of the trip to the London Stadium to play David Moyes' side because of the fixture congestion.

Image: PA

Alan Pardew's team claimed a 1-1 draw with Arsenal on Sunday and now face a second game in 51 hours. The turnaround was so quick, that David Moyes did his pre-game presser before West Brom had even played Arsenal.

The Telegraph reports that the West Brom chairman, John Williams, aired his views to Premier League chief Richard Scudamore over the issue, with the club irritated by the fact that their opponents will have had a week to prepare for the game, given that their last game was on Boxing Day.

Though West Brom are right to feel hard done by, it's not as if West Ham are getting it any easier as they will also play twice in two days.

The Hammers were scheduled to play Spurs in a televised fixture on Sunday but because of concerns for safety with the tube stations around, the game was rearranged to the Thursday.

Alan Pardew voiced his displeasure at the fixture pile-up and admits he will have to ring the changes.

Image: PA

"It's terrible. We all know there's pressure on TV companies for ratings and everything else and games - I understand that. But the league's got to be stronger and say two days is not right," he said.

"How we have got two days in Premier League professional football, putting players at risk in my opinion of injury? It's not right and we have had strong words with the league.

"It'll be a tough game at West Ham , they've had six days' rest. That is a bigger issue than anything.

"Of course I am making changes. There's some players who won't be able to cope with that. I'd be putting them at risk."

Thoughts on the arrangement of the game? Could the Premier League have managed things better?

Sound off in the comments.

Topics: Premier League, West Brom, West Ham

Josh Lawless

Josh is a sports journalist who specialises in football and wrestling. He has been published by Curzon Ashton FC, Late Tackle, Manchester City FC, The Mirror, Read Man City and Manchester Evening News. He provides coverage of professional wrestling and has interviewed some of the biggest names in the field - including the first UK interview with The Hardy Boyz after their return to WWE. He has never sported a pair of Lonsdale Slip-ons, contrary to reports.

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