This is the BBC.

Hello and welcome to more or less on the BBC World Service.

We're your weekly guide to the numbers in the news and in life,

and I'm Tim Harford.

Many people are celebrating Christmas at this time of year, but imagine those sad souls who are surrounded by people opening presents, singing carols and feasting,

yet can't themselves participate.

Yes, I'm thinking of those poor unfortunate English Premier League footballers.

While others are tucking into Turkey or knocking back the eggnog on Christmas day, these guys

are often out in the cold and sometimes the rain have an English winter, trying out set pieces

and playing practice matches in preparation for the festive fixtures.

Rob Minto is the author of Sports Geek, a book about sporting data.

So you have the Boxing Day game game usually one on the 28th or

29th. There's the New Year's day game and lots of other leagues have a winter

break. So no break for for Premiership footballersers over Christmas they can't sit around

sort of eating turkey like the rest of us and enjoying a glass of wine or whatever.

So while the likes of Ronaldo, Messy and Obermyang are likely off sunning

themselves enjoying a midwinter break.

Poor lambs like Rooney, Benthe and Aguero are suffering for their art.

But before you get out your very small violins, there have been suggestions that some players aren't

taking this lying down. A few weeks ago, Howard Webb, the former English Premier League

referee, exposed a potential potential getout that he says is used

by some players to take time off over Christmas and New Year.

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