Brighton ‘hoping for Crystal Palace clash to be postponed as it clashes due to the rail strikes on September 17… with authorities concerned how away fans will be able to return home after the match’
- Brighton are due to host rivals Crystal Palace on the same day as the rail strikes
- The club reportedly want the match postponed because of travel fears
- The Amex is best reached by public transport, which will be severely disrupted
- A postponement seeks likely with both clubs accepting it should be moved
Brighton’s home clash with fierce rivals Crystal Palace next weekend is reportedly in doubt because of the train strike that is set to cause travel chaos.
The Premier League encounter between the two sides is due to be held at the Amex at 3pm on Saturday, September 17 – the same day that around 40,000 rail workers will walk out as part of the long-running dispute over pay and conditions.
According to The Athletic, Brighton are hoping the match will be postponed and the early indications are they will get their wish. It is also believed Palace are willing to accommodate any request to move the game.
Discussions between the authorities have concluded that postponing the match is the most practical option, The Athletic reports.
Brighton and Palace want to play the fixture but the RMT strike, the latest in a spate of industrial action that has plunged the rail network into chaos this summer, poses a significant logistical problem.
The Amex is best reached by public transport, including trains, buses and a park and ride service, and there are concerns about how more than 2,000 Palace fans would return home from a fixture that has often been plagued by crowd trouble.
The Amex Stadium is a ground best reached by public transport, with a train station close by
Fans often use trains, buses and a park and ride service to reach Brighton’s stadium
The latest round of rail strikes are set to cause more disruption for football fans across the country
Pushing back the game to Sunday is also unlikely owing to the usual Sunday service and the disruption caused by the previous day’s walkout.
The strike is set to shutdown most of the rail system on that day, while there could be overrunning issues from similar action being organised by the RMT two days prior.
Brighton’s contest with Palace is one of four Premier League matches scheduled for September 17. Wolves host Manchester City in the lunchtime kick-off, while Newcastle welcome Bournemouth at 3pm and Spurs entertain Leicester in the teatime slot.
Brighton and Palace both want to play the game but accept the strikes make it a logistical issue
There is also a full programme of action in the Football League.
Brighton, who could lose manager Graham Potter to Chelsea, go to Bournemouth in their next Premier League fixture on Saturday, while Palace are at home to Manchester United on Sunday.
Should the match between Brighton and Palace be postponed, neither side would play again until October 1.
The postponement of the match would extend Brighton’s break from two weeks to three
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