Charlton Athletic star slams lack of Champions League 'common sense' over Arsenal and Man City decision

Michael Hector criticised the Champions League for a lack of 'common sense'.Michael Hector criticised the Champions League for a lack of 'common sense'.
Michael Hector criticised the Champions League for a lack of 'common sense'. | Getty Images
The Charlton Athletic star is in League One action tonight but clearly would have enjoyed catching one of the Champions League matches tomorrow instead.

Charlton Athletic star Michael Hector has added his voice to those expressing frustration with the Champions League for the organisation of this week's quarter-final matches involving Arsenal and Manchester City.

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The Gunners take on Bayern Munich while the Cityzens face Real Madrid in two tasty ties with teams hoping to book a place in the semi-final. The first legs of both matches will take place on Tuesday evening, kicking off at 8 pm.

The Champions League decision not to stagger the fixtures so that football fans could watch both of the clashes has sparked irritation online and Addicks' centre-back Hector is one of those to have criticised the decision. Taking to X, the former Chelsea and Reading man said: "Why have you put 2 English sides on the same day? Surely someone has common sense?"

A staggered time wouldn't have helped Hector watch either of the matches on Tuesday with Nathan Jones' men in League One action against Wigan Athletic at The Valley. Users online replied saying 'rather watch the mighty Addicks' and 'was a bit daft like wasn't it'. One Charlton supporter added: "Can you ask the club to move tonight’s game till tomorrow please mate?"

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Arsenal and Manchester City are the only two English sides left in the Champions League with the other quarter-finals of PSG vs Barcelona and Atletico Madrid vs Borussia Dortmund scheduled for Wednesday night.

Michael Hector criticised the Champions League for a lack of 'common sense'.Michael Hector criticised the Champions League for a lack of 'common sense'.
Michael Hector criticised the Champions League for a lack of 'common sense'. | Getty Images

One X user said: "Please @ChampionsLeague ya’ll need to start staggering these kick offs. We wait (sometimes) years for these head to heads and then you schedule two classics at the same time."

Another wrote: "Two of the best games all year in the best football competition in the world and they are both scheduled at the same time, on the same day - baffling. Talk about needlessly downgrading and diluting the quality, and global reach, of the football product. No good for anybody."

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