Why do footy games kick off so late in Europe?

[Graham C]

Is there a reason for it, does any one know?  Spanish cup matches tonight kick off at 10pm.   That's a late night isn't it. 

[CelticGeezeer]

Time difference

[Rooky9]

they tend to stay up later than us on a night for several reasons... one of which is having a sleep in the afternoon 

[Graham C]

lol must be the afternoon kip they get.  It can't be the time difference, it's still 9pm our time.  Our latest is 8pm

[The Baron]

I always thought it was the heat at the start and end of a season which they had to account for. No idea why they'd be doing it now.

[Royal Flush]

Why do football games kick off so early in the UK?

[Scottish Dave]

As rooky said, its their Siesta.

I was in Barca 2 years ago, and went to see Barca v Ososuna (finished 1-1) and was sat next to a guy that grew up in London, and moved to spain when he was 14 or so.

He was telling us that the main reason was due to the siesta, that many folk over there have, he said that they usually wake up about 3/4 ish and by the time they get squared up (ready, washed, fed etc etc) its later that our evenings.

He also said that the week before that particular game they played a lower league team (cant remember who now) in the spanish cup, and apparently the game kicked off at Midnight local time!!!!!

I wouldnt mind that....imagine getting kicked out the pub at closing time, and instead of going home to bed, you head over to the Camp Nou, to watch your heroes! magic

[Rod Paradise]

He also said that the week before that particular game they played a lower league team (cant remember who now) in the spanish cup, and apparently the game kicked off at Midnight local time!!!!!

I wouldnt mind that....imagine getting kicked out the pub at closing time, and instead of going home to bed, you head over to the Camp Nou, to watch your heroes! magic

That was a famous one - the League wouldn't let Barca play the game on the Saturday, saying it had to be the Sunday, so they played it as early on the Sunday as they could. Can't see the cops here allowing it though.

[AndrewT]

Yeah, they just do things later out there because of the siesta. Was out there on a stag weekend a couple of years ago and we had booked into a restaurant at 8.30pm. The place was empty. We were onto the desserts before anyone else came into eat, yet at 11.00pm the place was full.

Even at 5am the locals seemed perkier than us, though there may have been other reasons for that.

[The Baron]

He also said that the week before that particular game they played a lower league team (cant remember who now) in the spanish cup, and apparently the game kicked off at Midnight local time!!!!!

Ronaldinho's debut game (a 1-1 draw with someone where he scored THAT screamer) was an 11PM kick-off.