The Premier League has agreed that any games on Christmas Eve will kick off before 4pm amid controversy over holding matches that day.

A final decision on kick off times, which include the possibility of 3pm starts, will be made later this month. But it has been confirmed that later kick-offs have been ruled out after a meeting between the Premier League and the Football Supporters Federation.

Last week the FSF described the prospect of fixtures being moved from Saturday 23 December to Christmas Eve to be broadcast by Sky Sports as “a new low point in putting the interests of football broadcasters over those of match-going fans”.

But on Tuesday, the FSF confirmed it had received a guarantee from the Premier League’s executive chairman, Richard Scudamore, over kick-off times.

“We welcome this development in guaranteeing there will be no 4pm kick-offs on Christmas Eve,” said FSF’s CEO, Kevin Miles. “While we understand that it is a normal working day for many, the complications Christmas Eve brings, not least with the provision of public transport, means that a late afternoon or evening kick-off would be impossible for many supporters.”

Miles said he welcomed dialogue with the Premier League, with biannual meetings now taking place between the organisation and the supporters’ group, with representatives from all 20 clubs attending Tuesday’s meeting.

“We are starting to establish a basis for genuine dialogue,” Miles said. “Even when we have differences of opinion we at least understand each other’s point of view. The Premier League have made genuine efforts to meet our requirements.”

Arsenal’s game at home to Liverpool has been mentioned as a candidate to be moved to Christmas Eve, and Jürgen Klopp spoke out strongly against the idea. An announcement on which games, if any, will take place on Christmas Eve is due to be made on 19 October. The Premier League said the selection of New Year fixtures may take a further week to be confirmed.

The Premier League, meanwhile, looks set to opt against showing its biggest matches at prime time on Saturday evenings. Before the tender goes out on UK television rights for the 2019-22 seasons, Scudamore also moved away from Sunday mornings or Sunday night games under the new deal.

He is uncertain about the appetite Sky Sports and BT Sport would have for such a clash with Saturday night prime-time terrestrial television. The league, however, remains keen on midweek matches going head to head under the new terms.