The English Premier League (EPL) is in talks with UK rights holders to negotiate the return of broadcasting of the season’s remaining fixtures. Despite skepticism, the league is the latest sporting body to attempt and return to regular games behind closed doors.
Regular games were suspended six weeks ago with the temporary pause of the season still ongoing due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Some are expecting the league to return in June, as a government spokesperson recently said that ministers continue to collaborate with sports governing bodies, in a bid to restore these completions back to normal while observing public health protocols.
According to media outlets, 47 of the remaining 92 games will be aired by BT Sport and Sky Sports as part of existing contracts. However, the remaining 45 fixtures are still subject to negotiations, PA news agency has reported.
Based on PA’s account, Amazon and BBC are both interested in broadcasting the events. However, before a consent is given, the Premier League would need to garner the approval and support of stakeholders.
Clubs Eager to Complete the 2019/20 Season
Many soccer franchises in the United Kingdom have confirmed their determination to see the season through – with or without fans. In the words of Manchester United Vice Chairman Ed Woodward, the Red Devils were eager “like all of you,” to see the event completed. During a video chat on Friday, he had this to add:
“We are in constant dialogue with our governing bodies about when and how that will happen and we will continue to engage with this forum to keep fans consulted.”
Woodward also acknowledged that football won’t come back to normal until such a time that fans were back in attendance, but this could take a while. In the meantime, he said, the season should continue.
According to other sources, including The Times, government officials have been urging sports governing bodies, and particularly soccer authorities, to find a way to resume the season.
With English football more or less paralyzed, however, there have been attempts elsewhere in Europe to bring things back to normal. The German Bundesliga will be returning on May 9, marking an important milestone for the sport in the country.
Not everyone has been quite as enthusiastic, however. The Association of Spanish Footballers (AFE) has objected against the premature return of the country’s main soccer competition, La Liga.
With no official date of the return, LaLiga officials have reassured that they would in the very least try to complete the season.
