Oliver Dowden said that the EPL's return "should include widening access for fans to view live coverage."GETTY IMAGES
The EPL has been told by the U.K. government that it "must show some matches free-to-air" and put more money into the English Football League and grassroots game "as a condition for restarting this season." The demands were made by U.K. Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden at a meeting on Thursday at which he "gave the green light for matches to resume provided it is safe to do so." The EPL is in negotiations with its broadcast partners Sky and BT over "finding a solution to showing some matches free-to-air when the season resumes." The government's preferred solution is that the "remaining 45 matches not already covered under the terms of existing TV deals are shown either on freely accessible TV channels or via a streaming platform such as YouTube" (London GUARDIAN, 5/14).
Meanwhile, Tottenham Manager Jose Mourinho "rejected claims he wants a delay to the resumption" of the EPL. Mourinho: "I have not asked for any delay. I want to train, and I am desperate for the Premier League to return as soon as it is safe to do so, particularly now we are seeing other leagues preparing to return to action" (ESPN.com, 5/14).
