The Corona crisis is causing chaos and upheaval in the world of sport. Now the English TV stations are also discussing an option that would have been unthinkable before Corona.
Is Corona breaking a taboo in English football?
According to several English media, the TV stations BT Sport and Sky Sports are discussing plans to broadcast all Premier League matches live on TV, should the league continue without spectators – including the matches on Saturday afternoon at 3pm.
Until now, the so-called “blackout rule” has prohibited football matches from being shown live on Saturday between 2.45pm and 5.15pm English time. This rule has existed since the early 1960s and dates back to Bob Lord, the then chairman of FC Burnley.
The aim of this arrangement was to encourage fans to go to the stadium to support their local club rather than watching top matches from the couch.
FA must approve the rule change
In times of Corona, however, everything is reconsidered and so this golden rule of English football is shaken. This is justified by a protective function. Should the Premier League really continue with ghost games, live broadcasts could be used to prevent fans from gathering outside the stadiums.
However, the regulation can only be lifted by the English FA. The Premier League or the English Football League EFL would have to come up with good reasons for doing so – like the Corona crisis. According to various sources, the FA was initially opposed to the proposal, but there is a growing hope that the FA might reconsider this position in the light of the current situation.The Corona crisis is causing chaos and upheaval in the world of sport. Now the English TV stations are also discussing an option that would have been unthinkable before Corona.
Is Corona breaking a taboo in English football?
According to several English media, the TV stations BT Sport and Sky Sports are discussing plans to broadcast all Premier League matches live on TV, should the league continue without spectators – including the matches on Saturday afternoon at 3pm.
Until now, the so-called “blackout rule” has prohibited football matches from being shown live on Saturday between 2.45pm and 5.15pm English time. This rule has existed since the early 1960s and dates back to Bob Lord, the then chairman of FC Burnley.
The aim of this arrangement was to encourage fans to go to the stadium to support their local club rather than watching top matches from the couch.
FA must approve the rule change
In times of Corona, however, everything is reconsidered and so this golden rule of English football is shaken. This is justified by a protective function. Should the Premier League really continue with ghost games, live broadcasts could be used to prevent fans from gathering outside the stadiums.
However, the regulation can only be lifted by the English FA. The Premier League or the English Football League EFL would have to come up with good reasons for doing so – like the Corona crisis. According to various sources, the FA was initially opposed to the proposal, but there is a growing hope that the FA might reconsider this position in the light of the current situation.
