South African Premier League fans, get ready for a change to your weekend viewing schedule! If you're used to settling in for a Saturday lunchtime kick-off, you'll notice a gap this week. Don't worry, there's a perfectly good reason why there's no game at the usual time.
Why the Change?
This weekend is still packed with football action, starting with Leeds United hosting West Ham United on Friday evening and culminating with Everton battling Tottenham Hotspur. However, the usual Saturday lunchtime slot is empty.
While Sky Sports will broadcast Manchester United vs Brighton at teatime, TNT Sports, who usually hold the lunchtime slot, will be showing Liverpool's trip to Brentford. The twist? The game kicks off at 8pm, much later than usual.
FIFA's 72-Hour Rule
The reason for the shift lies in a FIFA agreement made with player unions this summer. This agreement mandates a minimum 72-hour rest period for players between kick-offs. While Brentford wasn't affected by this rule, Liverpool's Champions League commitments threw a wrench into the works.
Liverpool played Eintracht Frankfurt in the Champions League on Wednesday evening. Because of that Wednesday game, the Brentford match couldn't be scheduled any earlier than 8pm on Saturday. So, while you might miss your lunchtime fix, you'll still get to see Liverpool in action later that evening!
This change highlights the increasing complexities of scheduling in modern football, where player welfare and international commitments must be carefully balanced with broadcasting needs.