Brighton & Hove Albion's Alexis Mac Allister celebrates scoring their fifth goal with teammates Action Images via Reuters.Brighton & Hove Albion’s Premier League home game against Crystal Palace on Sept. 17 has been postponed due to planned industrial action on the rail network, the league said on Wednesday.
Britain’s rail network has been hit by major disruptions in the last few weeks as staff protest over pay and conditions, part of growing industrial unrest around the country as wages fail to keep pace with soaring inflation. “Following a request to the Premier League Board by Brighton and Hove Albion FC, the club’s home fixture against Crystal Palace FC, due to be played at 3pm on Saturday 17 September, has been regrettably postponed,” the league said in a statement. “The decision follows exceptional circumstances relating to the planned industrial action on the rail network, with authorities unable to sanction the fixture to be played with no public transport available for supporters.”
It is with regret that our upcoming #PL match against @CPFC has been postponed due to the planned industrial action on the rail network. ⤵️
— Brighton & Hove Albion (@OfficialBHAFC) September 7, 2022
Brighton said a new date for the game would be announced soon. “While we fully appreciate this will be of huge disappointment to both sets of fans the safety of fans of both clubs, our matchday staff, players and officials must be the priority,” the club said in a statement
Graham Potter’s Brighton side, fourth in the table with 13 points from six games, travel to Bournemouth on Saturday and 15th-placed Palace host Manchester United on Sunday.