MPs vote on making Premier League games free-to-air in the UK

MPs person voted connected a connection to unit the Premier League to marque astatine slightest 10 games a play free-to-air by law.

Since the Premier League’s inception successful 1992, each games person been down a paywall with broadcasters specified arsenic Sky Sports, Amazon Prime and TNT Sports – though a fistful of games were free-to-air connected the BBC during the Covid-19 pandemic.

But the Liberal Democrats enactment guardant an amendment to the Football Governance Bill, which featured a pledge to marque astatine slightest 10 Premier League matches a play free-to-air, arsenic good the Championship, League One and League Two play-off finals.

It was cited that fans would person to walk £660 to ticker each crippled adjacent play nether the competition’s latest TV deals

The Lib Dems were assured that a ballot would beryllium granted.

Max Wilkinson MP, who is the Lib Dem spokesperson for Culture, Media and Sport, said: "I'm urging MPs of each stripes to backmost our amendment to teardrop down the paywall and marque Premier League games disposable connected free-to-air channels."

He added: "For excessively long, the jewel successful the crown of British shot has been locked down an costly obstruction that keeps fans retired portion lining the pockets of broadcasters. That indispensable extremity contiguous - with a free-to-air gyration that gives the Premier League backmost to the country."

But connected Tuesday afternoon, a full of 340 MPs voted against allowing 10 Premier League games to beryllium broadcast for free, portion conscionable 86 voted successful favour.

Here's however fans connected societal media reacted to the news.

One said: "It’s specified an unfastened extremity arsenic a good-favour enactment and alternatively they’ve categorically voted against what 99% of shot fans want. Shambles."

A 2nd wrote: "If politicians truly cared astir the people, wherefore ballot no? Really insignificant happening successful examination to what other is going connected but should archer you truthful much."

A 3rd commented: "Kids should beryllium capable to watch, look up to and consciousness inspired by their footballing heroes. Not lone are they being priced retired of stadiums crossed the country, you’ve present got each azygous Labour MP voting against letting them ticker it connected TV. Ridiculously retired of touch!"

A 4th said: "This is simply a gag effect - from MP’s connected each sides of the location - what happened to the moving people athletics for moving people people?" and a 5th added: "This was an amendment to the Football Governance Bill that could’ve fixed a sliver of entree to radical who cannot spend the subscriptions."