Alan Shearer, Getty Images December 26, 2025, 4:26 p.m

English football legend Alan Shearer has spoken about the Premier League’s decision to play just one game on Boxing Day. His words are quoted by the BBC.

“Can’t believe there’s only one game on Boxing Day. I can’t remember the last time I had Boxing Day off. Always worked this day. I continued to do this after my career as a Match of the Day volunteer.

But God knows how long I’ll be off Boxing Day now. It seems crazy that there is only one game on this day, it is very strange.

Where is the world going? The rest of Europe, for example, Germany and Spain, are resting. But all my life I have watched sport on and around Boxing Day. It’s surprising that there is only one match now.

Sport on Boxing Day is an important phenomenon in our country. There are usually a lot of matches going on at this time. I think I would be lost without it. God knows what would have happened if there was no football that day,” said Shearer.

The only Premier League match to be played on Boxing Day is Manchester United v Newcastle.