European football governing body UEFA has lifted the ban on matches being shown live on TV in England and Scotland that start at 3.00pm on a Saturday afternoon.
This decision comes after the Football Association and the Scottish Football Association asked for the ban to be lifted because of the coronavirus crisis.
This move is seen as the first to suggest that the restart of domestic football will see matches played behind closed doors, meaning supporters will only be able to watch their team in action from the comfort of their own home.
The 3.00pm TV blackout in England and Scotland has been in place for years in a bid to protect attendances.
In a statement regarding this decision, UEFA said: “Uefa has lifted the ‘blocked hours’ protection granted to England and Scotland for the remainder of the 2019/20 season following requests from the relevant national associations as a result of measures taken in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic.”
It is claimed by the Mirror that the main factor that has forced the Football Association to request for the ban to be lifted is because they fear if games are behind closed doors fans will still attempt to get into stadiums, causing security and safety troubles.
But if matches are broadcasted live on TV, it is expected that the fear of fans turning up at stadiums should be eased.
As well as that, the Premier League clubs want to save this season’s TV deal in an attempt to stop having to pay back £750million in broadcast money.
