Community Shield Moved After Complaints By Manchester City Fans

The 2023 Community Shield game between Premier League champions Manchester City and runners-up Arsenal has been moved from 5.30pm to 4pm on Sunday, August 6.

The 2023 Community Shield game between Premier League champions Manchester City and runners-up Arsenal has been rescheduled.

It had originally been due to kick-off at 5.30pm (UK time) on Sunday, August 6 but it will now take place 90 minutes earlier at 4pm.

The game will still be held at London's Wembley Stadium.

The Football Association made the decision to bring the match forward after City supporters threatened to boycott the fixture.

A spokesperson for the Football Supporters' Association had earlier told BBC Sport: "What used to be an early to mid-afternoon game is now being held on a Sunday evening at the behest of the FA's broadcasters.

"Manchester City supporters are understandably upset, with some calling for boycotts, at this inconvenient scheduling of the Community Shield which will leave many facing difficult decisions about transport and time-off.

"This decision to put the needs of broadcasters ahead of match-going fans will undoubtedly lead to empty seats and sour what should be an otherwise exciting curtain-raiser for the new season."

The 2023 Community Shield game between Manchester City and Arsenal will be held at Wembley Stadium on August 6 at 4pm (UK time) :: IMAGO/PRiME Media Images/Vince Mignott

City issued an official club statement after the game had been moved.

It read: "Having contacted the FA to express our reservations and clarify why the kick-off time of 17.30 BST on a Sunday was originally chosen, we are pleased that the decision to bring forward kick-off has now been made.

"Whilst we understand that this will not fully alleviate travel issues for our fans and our preference would have been for an earlier kick-off time still, we hope that the new kick-off time will make a difference."

City have not won the Community Shield since 2019.

The trophy will be one of seven pieces of silverware available to City next season, after they also qualified for the UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup by winning the 2022/23 UEFA Champions League.