Keir Starmer and the Football Supporters’ Association (FSA) have issued a joint plea for the upcoming Champions League final between Arsenal and Paris St Germain to be made available free-to-air.
The call comes as the showpiece European club competition final faces being behind a paywall in the UK for the first time in its 34-year history.
The Prime Minister, an ardent Arsenal supporter, previously expressed his disappointment at the decision. He has now joined forces with the FSA and numerous fan groups, urging broadcaster TNT Sports to reverse its plan to keep Saturday’s final in Budapest exclusively on a subscription channel.
“Football is for the fans,” the joint statement began. “We stand together in support of the tradition of European club competition finals being shown free to air and urge TNT to honour this tradition by making the Champions League final free to watch for millions of fans, as it always has been. This is bigger than any one club or match. This is about putting fans first. There is still time to make the right call.”
The statement garnered significant support, with signatories including the Arsenal Supporters Trust, Aston Villa Supporters Trust, Citizens Trust – Manchester City Supporters Union, Chelsea Supporters Trust, and Crystal Palace Independent Supporters Association.
Other prominent groups such as Newcastle United Supporters Club, Newcastle United Supporters Trust, Nottingham Forest Supporters Trust, Spirit of Shankly – Liverpool Supporters Union, and Tottenham Hotspur Supporters Trust also added their names.
TNT Sports holds the broadcasting rights for all three European club competition finals this year, all of which feature English clubs.
While Aston Villa triumphed in the Europa League and Crystal Palace secured the Conference League title, it is the decision regarding the flagship Champions League final that has drawn widespread criticism.
Historically, the final has always been accessible via free-to-air television or online streaming without charge until this season.
A spokesperson for TNT Sports defended their position, stating: “It has been a privilege to bring Uefa club competitions to sports fans across the UK throughout the season.
“Having three Premier League clubs reach the finals shows the strength of English football and something that we are proud to continue to support.
“We have made all three Uefa finals this year available from just £4.99, the price for a month-long subscription to HBO Max that also includes the great entertainment on the service. This represents exceptional value for fans to watch the conclusion of the competitions.”
