Manchester United must wait to find out the confirmed date of their top flight trip to Brentford despite the Premier League announcing the TV selections for that weekend.
United travel to the Gtech Stadium on the first weekend of May and the match is currently set to kick off at 3pm on a Saturday having not been chosen for live television coverage.
However, that is subject to change and the fixture will move to Sunday, May 4, with a 2pm kick off should United still be in the Europa League.
It means the squad and United’s supporters must wait before they can confirm travel arrangements for the fixture.United play Lyon in the last eight of the Europa League next month and should they overcome the French side and book a place in the semi-finals, then they will play the first leg on Thursday, May 1.
In that scenario, the Premier League trip to the Bees will be moved back a day. If Ruben Amorim’s side are knocked out of Europe next month, then the May 3 slot will remain.
It means there won’t be confirmation of a date until April 17 – when United play the second leg against Lyon – giving fans just over a fortnight’s notice.
It’s the latest in several examples of fixture dates making life difficult for supporters. United were handed two Sunday night 7pm kick offs earlier this year with trips to Fulham and Leicester City given that time slot.
The evening slot is unpopular and logistically difficult for travelling fans given it vastly reduces public transport options and guarantees a late return to Manchester for the away supporters, with many facing work or school on a Monday morning.
It prompted the Football Supporters’ Association to hit out at the fixture scheduling. A spokesperson for the FSA told the Manchester Evening News:
“Sunday evening kick-offs are really unpopular with matchgoing supporters as public transport options are limited and it’s not good for families with young children.
“Conditional TV selections are really increasing the strain on fans as the Premier League and its clubs continue to prioritise broadcasters over matchgoers for these games.”
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