Learning a Lesson
The Premier League confirmed today in a statement that all Premier League games will remain available for existing broadcasters to ensure supporters don’t miss them, while stadiums remained closed. After the Premier League’s earlier unpopular experiment with Pay-For-View matches during the pandemic was challenged by football supporters, it’s certainly good to see them sticking to the policy of doing the right thing.
The announcement also gives supporters an insight into the government’s forthcoming details on the next set of actions for Covid pandemic/lockdown life on Monday 22nd February. With the Premier League’s statement obviously taking its cue from the discussions they had with the government in informing the government’s plans, it looks like they’ll be little chance of any fans returning to stadiums for the 2020/21 season.
The schedule for the next round of March football on TV will be announced very soon.
Certainly from an earlier Football Supporters Association meeting MOMS was in with the Premier League, the earliest return date for supporters is likely to be in the Autumn, if all goes well with the vaccination roll-out and if there’s no complications with Covid variants etc.
In other news, the Premier League have issued an eleventh hour change of the kick-off time of Villa’s home match with Leicester City on Sunday, the new fixture kick-off time will be 2.05pm.
UTV
The Premier League Statement
The Premier League today confirmed all fixtures for the 2020/21 season will continue to be made available to fans to watch live in the UK. This arrangement will be extended until Government guidance permits supporters to return to stadiums.
All matches will be shown via existing broadcast partners Sky Sports, BT Sport, Amazon Prime Video and BBC, who continue to work with us to deliver these additional matches while stadiums are missing the supporters who are such an integral part of the game.
Details of broadcast selections for March and the rearrangement of previously postponed matches will be announced in due course.
The Premier League and its clubs remain committed to an accessible solution for fans. The UK live broadcast arrangements will be reviewed in consultation with clubs and in line with any decisions made by Government regarding the return of spectators to stadiums.
