Portsmouth have formally registered their frustration with Uefa after their Championship fixture at Wolverhampton Wanderers was rescheduled twice. The club's chief executive, Andy Cullen, confirmed the move, citing significant pressure on domestic schedules from expanding international competitions.
The match was originally set for Wednesday, September 9. It was first moved to September 16 because of a Carabao Cup tie against Everton. A second change then pushed it to October 20 to accommodate Liverpool's Champions League match against Atletico Madrid. This final date means Portsmouth will face one of eight games in a demanding 28-day period.
Cullen explained the core issue is Uefa's split scheduling of the Champions League and Europa League. "The continued growth of FIFA and Uefa competitions is placing significant pressure on the domestic schedule," he said. The English Football League has relayed these concerns directly to European football's governing body.
For Portsmouth, currently 19th in the Championship with eight points from seven games, the disruption is more than an administrative headache. It complicates travel and staffing plans for the trip to Molineux and has caused considerable inconvenience for supporters who had made arrangements. The club felt it was being "messed around more than once."
This fixture uncertainty comes as John Mousinho's side looks to build momentum following a 2-2 draw with Blackburn Rovers before the international break. The squad will also be hoping for positive news on the injury front, with Josh Murphy and Luke Brooke-Smith currently sidelined.
The rescheduled visit to Wolves is now confirmed for Tuesday, October 20.
The original report is at portsmouth.co.uk
