Despite having announced all of the matches scheduled for TV for April previously, Sky have still decided to select another one of our matches for TV, moving the Everton game at Goodison Park from Saturday 21st April to Monday 23rd April.
The club have offered full refunds for those who can now not attend the game, but the short notice for the change means that many who have booked travel and hotels will be out of pocket. Responding to the announcement, fans on Twitter were outraged by Sky`s decision:
This is OUTRAGEOUS. People have booked hotels and trains. WTF are @SkySports playing at???
? Burnsie NUFC (@BenArfaChance) March 22, 2018
What about people who have booked trains and hotels on a non-refund basis? Will you refund that as well? Could you not speak up for your fans and object to Sky moving the game? Absolute distain
? Keggging (@Keggging) March 22, 2018
Something needs to get said here man. Less than a months notice and tickets have been getting sold for a fortnight. It’s not fair on travelling fans
? Kris Leighton (@toontong85) March 22, 2018
Personally feel every nufc fan should ask for a refund and boycott the game absolute disgrace yet again
? mark crowe (@marknufc9) March 22, 2018
I’m not affected personally but THAT one is an absolute joke of the highest order
? David Pick (@davidpick1987) March 22, 2018
Thanks lads flights,hotels and tickets bought for a game advertised as a 3pm ko
? NUFC Belfast (@BelfastNUFC) March 22, 2018
They shouldn’t be allowed to do it. No consideration at all for fans who have already forked out for travel and accommodation with no chance of getting their money back.
? Jimmy (@Jimmyk1978) March 22, 2018
Surely this shouldn’t be allowed considering tickets have been on sale for some time? Fans will be out of pocket now, the @premierleague and @SkySports should be compensating fans #nufc
? James Keatley (@My_Giant_Durian) March 22, 2018
Absolute joke that!
? Jonathan Foster (@nefoster5) March 22, 2018
People have trains, hotels booked. When will the fans ever come first. Fair play to @NUFC for giving the chance of refunded tickets.
? liamwatson (@liamwatson1827) March 22, 2018
Verdict:
Tickets have been on sale for a number of weeks for this game. The announcement has been made at such short notice, it has upset many people`s travel plans, and it`s just another example of the lack of consideration that TV companies have for fans.
As Sky had already announced their fixtures for April, supporters felt they could safely arrange bookings for travel and hotels without being worried of the fixture being moved. Now, because TV want to fill their schedule for another Monday Night Football, fans have been left to deal with the repercussions. It`s simply not on.