Soccer Extreme : Church leaders today clashed with TV and Premier League bosses over the Easter Sunday match between Aston Villa and Everton. The city’s Anglican and Roman Catholic leaders claim the 2pm kick-off will make it near impossible to get to worship services on what is traditionally the Sunday with the highest church attendance in the year.Bishop of Birmingham David Urquart and Archbishop Vincent Nicols, soon to become the UK’s Roman Catholic leader, accused the league and Setanta of showing “disdain” for the religious traditions of the country.
Setanta will televise the game which was originally scheduled for Saturday before being moved to Sunday. In letters to Setanta and the Premier League, the bishop and archbishop said: “In rearranging this fixture in this manner you show disdain for the religious traditions of this country, and the sensitivities of many employees and football supporters. Commercial considerations are not all that matters.”
In a second letter the Aston Churches Working Together group, which includes Aston Parish Church next to Villa Park, said: “Around 1,000 people will be prevented either from worship or spending time with their family by the match.
“Easter Sunday is traditionally the Sunday with the highest church attendance in the year, and many of the local churches’ more elderly and infirm members make a special effort to come to church for the special Easter services.
“It is surely in no one’s interest for them to be caught up with large crowds of football supporters hurrying to arrive by the kick-off.”