The Football Federation of Macedonia (FFM) informs that the scheduling of First MFL matches is linked to the programming schedule of the holder of the television rights, which, together with the Federation, determines the matches and kick-off times for their live television broadcast and, above all, the conditions at the stadiums.
This is an established practice in European and world football. Early afternoon kick-off times during the weekend, as well as matches on Fridays or Mondays, are also seen in the strongest European leagues and in the leagues of our neighbouring countries.
In conditions of high temperatures during the summer period, the possibilities for rescheduling matches are limited. When weather conditions do not allow matches to be played before 17:00, some clubs that do not have the conditions for evening matches must be scheduled at other times, including Mondays or during the early afternoon hours at the weekend.
Depending on the programming schedule of the TV rights holder, matches may be broadcast live or on a delayed basis.
FFM wishes to clearly emphasise that responsibility for infrastructure conditions cannot constantly be shifted to the Federation. If a club wants to play its matches in an evening slot, it must create the necessary conditions, above all floodlighting and infrastructure that meet the required standards.
All clubs in the First MFL are joint-stock companies and, as such, should be prepared to invest in their own infrastructure and in the stadiums where they play their matches. It cannot constantly be expected that someone else, namely FFM, will complete work that is the obligation and responsibility of the club itself.
FFM continuously invests and creates conditions for the development of football, but the Federation cannot, nor should it, be the only entity responsible for resolving the infrastructure problems of clubs. Clubs must assume concrete responsibility and invest in the conditions for their footballers, supporters and matches.
Regarding the matches from the 5th round of the First MFL, we inform you that the two fixtures being played in the weekend slot will be available to watch live via the official FFM YouTube platform, while the television broadcast will be shown on a delayed basis on TV Arena: Aresimi – Skopje, Saturday, 23:00, and Bashkimi – Shkëndija Arachinovo, Sunday, 22:45. The remaining three matches from the 5th round will be broadcast live on TV Arena Sport Macedonia.
