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Merseyside derby: Legal threat over late kick-off time Merseyside derby late kick-off: Legal action decision deferred
(about 2 hours later)
The Premier League has been threatened with legal action if it refuses to move the Merseyside derby kick-off time. A decision to take legal action against the Premier League over the Merseyside derby kick-off time has been deferred.
Liverpool City Council has requested an earlier start time to the scheduled 17:30 GMT Everton v Liverpool clash on 7 February at Goodison Park. Liverpool City Council requested an earlier start time to the scheduled 17:30 GMT Everton v Liverpool clash on 7 February at Goodison Park.
Merseyside Police also raised concerns over the late kick-off saying weekend games should start no later than 13:30. A spokesman said it was seeking legal advice on its position if the Premier League does not bring it forward.
The force has elevated it to a Category C game classing it as a high risk of disorder because of the start time. The move follows concerns raised by police over a weekend evening kick-off for the derby.
The force has elevated the game to Category C which has a high risk of disorder because of the start time.
'Most challenging''Most challenging'
In a report to the ground safety advisory committee, Merseyside Police said it did not support the fixture being played at 17:30 GMT. In a report to the ground safety advisory committee, Merseyside Police said it did not support the fixture being played at 17:30 GMT stating that weekend games should start no later than 13:30 GMT.
The police report said, while there was no specific intelligence indicating any organised disorder planned, the wider implications of a late kick-off meant they had to take action now. The police report said, while there was no specific intelligence indicating any organised disorder, the wider implications of a late kick-off meant they had to take action now.
Merseyside Police said: "An evening kick-off time at a weekend is undoubtedly the most challenging and gives us the least chance of meeting our responsibilities.Merseyside Police said: "An evening kick-off time at a weekend is undoubtedly the most challenging and gives us the least chance of meeting our responsibilities.
"It is for this reason we, the police, have specifically requested that this fixture should have a lunchtime kick-off.""It is for this reason we, the police, have specifically requested that this fixture should have a lunchtime kick-off."
Everton FC informed the Premier League of the force's objections on 9 December and the issue will be discussed later by the council's licensing committee. Everton FC informed the Premier League of the force's objections on 9 December but the city council said it has yet to get a response from the league.
At an earlier meeting, Liverpool City Council's licensing committee agreed to defer any decision until next year when it has sought legal advice.