PL chairmen hatch dirty tricks campaign – Leicester excused

Hughie gives his view on the £15 to watch matches row that has broken – Sean’s will follow a little later

The BBC’s Dan Roan has added some interesting thoughts to the debate about paying £15  a time to watch games on Sky and BT and they will probably resonate with the majority of fans.

In a blog he says: “Their ( the PL’s)  annoyance at being told turnstiles must remain shut when pressure is also building on them to come up with a bailout for the EFL, is likely to have hardened their stance.

But after clubs spent more than £1bn in the summer transfer window, and at a time when many supporters will be struggling financially, there will be anger about having to pay £15 for matches fans had grown used to watching for no extra cost, on top of their subscriptions for Sky and BT. Those who have also bought season tickets will be particularly infuriated.

I understand the Premier League’s move has raised eyebrows within government, and clubs will now come under renewed pressure to refund season ticket holders, and perhaps reduce the pay-per-view cost going forward.”

He adds: “Ever since last season resumed, all Premier League matches have been available to watch live via the top flight’s broadcast partners. This was partly to help the government encourage fans to stay at home while games stayed behind closed doors, rather than congregating outside grounds or in pubs.

But having had their hopes of a partial return of fans inside grounds from 1 October dashed, despite the success of pilot events, the clubs have had enough of generating nothing from these matches.

His point that the move may be raising eyebrows at government level after their decision to allow behind closed doors games to be played and televised  to raise the morale of a lockdown weary nation is a strong one.

The amount of pressure the PL applied at the time in order to avoid financial penalties from the broadcasters was considered almost obscene by many with the death toll rising – notably in care homes – and infections spiralling.

None of this seemed to get more than a passing  mention from the PL. Money then – as now – among the chairmen and the League bosses was the driver. Let’s please have no argument about that.

Leicester City  – a brilliantly run club which clearly also has some morals devoid of money – are excused from that as they voted against this pay to view plan.

The PL and the rest of them have approved a move straight out of the dirty tricks cupboard!

As we go into a winter at a time described by Health minister Nick Hancock as “perilous” we have the PL attempting to pile financial pressure on those who have lost, or in danger of losing jobs, with a scheme which may backfire anyway.

It may become impossible to play even behind closed doors football  within areas which suffer local lockdowns  and the threat of  national lockdown remains a possibility.

It’s hard not to start wearying of a game – at this level anyway –  where fans are forgotten when it suits and almost price blackmailed into watching their favourite teams when they are required.

I’m personally very unhappy with sports administrators and clubs whose only concern is MONEY at a time when people are dying via this horrible thing which has and continues to blight our lives.

The motto these geezers seem to live by is WHAT’S IN IT FOR ME!