Paul Rouse: Managers will grumble but Christmas sport is a deeply embedded tradition

A Newcastle supporter dressed as Santa Claus celebrates after the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Fulham last week. Picture: Stu Forster/Getty Images

One of the great certainties of winter is managers in the English Premier League complaining about too many games at Christmas.

When he was manager of Manchester United manager Louis Van Gaal said: “There is no winter break and I think that is the most evil thing of this culture.” It isn’t just non-British managers who have argued against the heavy calendar of fixtures that are organised for Christmas. Sam Allardyce has also argued long and hard for a winter break, instead of a Christmas pile-up.