I appeal to England's football governing body to stop scheduling football on Good Friday and keep it as a day of remembrance and the family.

Football, is a celebration of sport, and I love football on any day but not on Good Friday.

For Christians, which according to the 2022 census, make up over 35% of the UK population, Good Friday is the great day of remembrance, a day of prayer and mourning for Christians worldwide remembering the ultimate sacrifice paid by Jesus for the sins of mankind on the cross. Christ's message is a message of true life and hope. A message most needed in a holy land of that time of great conflict, and one needed in today's world, maybe more than ever in fact. 

The solemnity of the day, Good Friday, and that is reflected in the fact that there were no elite level football matches across the majority of countries with substantial Christian populations including Greece, Russia, Serbia, Cyprus, Georgia, Germany and France. And only two games in Italy and Romania and one game in Spain on Good Friday in the 22/23 football season.  

In contrast in England beneath the Premier League, there was an entire calendar of fixtures across the entire football pyramid of twelve leagues, for me as a practicing Christian, even as a keen follower of football, incomprehensible. 
 
The approach of England's FA appears to be an almost complete lack of a 'nod' of recognition of the solemnity of the day Good Friday not only towards Christian fans, but also Christians in the sport like Liverpool's Jürgen Klopp, David Wagner of Norwich City or players like Crystal Palace defender Joel Ward, Fulham's winger Willian or the goalkeeper of Liverpool Alisson.

The life of Christ is recognised across all Abrahamic religions Christianity, Islam and Judaism and far beyond. It is a sign of a tolerant and multi-cultural society to respect a day of commeration such as Good Friday, as we do those of other faiths.

I would like the English FA to not schedule football matches on Good Friday, or severely limit the scheduling to allow for a day of reflection and a day for the family as is the case in the many leagues outside of England.