Kairat Almaty is set to host the Greek club Olympiakos in a crucial Champions League match on Tuesday. The game will kick off at 15:30 GMT, accommodating time zone differences between Kazakhstan and the United Kingdom.
Understanding the Time Difference
Due to Kazakhstan’s five-hour lead over the UK, the match will begin at 20:30 local time. UEFA guidelines dictate that matches must not start later than 22:00 in the local timezone, which also influenced the scheduling of this event.
Kairat Almaty’s Previous Champions League Matches
Kairat has already participated in six home fixtures in this season’s Champions League, including:
- Four matches during the qualifying rounds.
- Two matches in the league phase.
The first three fixtures began at 20:00 local time, while the subsequent matches commenced at 21:45. Notably, following a 0-0 draw with Pafos on October 21, the UK shifted its clocks back by one hour. As a result, what would have been a 21:45 kickoff adjusted to 22:45 due to the change.
Impact of Time Zone Adjustments
It is important to note that Kazakhstan does not alter its clocks for daylight saving time. However, the nation is still affected by time changes occurring in Europe and elsewhere. Kairat’s upcoming home games against Olympiakos and Club Brugge next month will feature 15:30 GMT kick-offs to comply with UEFA’s rules and to prevent overlaps with other scheduled matches at 17:45 and 20:00 GMT, respectively.
This strategic scheduling aims to enhance viewer engagement while adhering to UEFA’s stringent rules on kickoff times.
