The Premier League have pressured UEFA into temporarily lifting the embargo on 3 pm games in England, in order to resolve the 2019/20 season. Also being resolved at the same time would the small matter of the clubs keeping their shares of the £750m in broadcast cash – which is currently hanging in the balance. The Mirror says that the accord with UEFA was struck on Friday.
One obvious concern would be that some fans would seek to defy the government lockdown and turn up at stadiums anyway, to make themselves known, and ‘support’ their side.
These fans would of course not only be liable to arrest, fines and possibly imprisonment but severe ridicule from the rest of the watching world.
There is nothing “staunch” about missing a game because you were outside the stadium, shouting to zero good purpose. Indeed, these individuals would mark themselves out as thoughtless people, perhaps too skint to afford sports subscriptions. This is surely not something one would not be in a hurry to tell the world about.
The continued lockdown on pubs etc would mean the only place to watch the games would be at home, enjoying the luxury of multiple camera coverage and replays. A stark contrast to being stood outside the game looking like a pilchard – watching nothing but coppers preparing to taser you.