MPs are set to be known as to vote on a proposal that may make at the least 10 Premier League matches obtainable on free-to-air TV every season.
The Liberal Democrats have submitted an modification to the continued Football Governance Bill, which is at the moment below parliamentary assessment.
This laws goals to ascertain an unbiased soccer regulator that can oversee the boys’s skilled sport throughout England’s prime 5 divisions, separate from each the federal government and soccer authorities.
If accepted, the Lib Dem modification would activity the brand new regulator with guaranteeing that choose top-tier matches – together with the League Cup Final and the play-off finals for the Championship, League One, and League Two – are proven on free-to-access channels.
Currently, the UK operates a ‘listed occasions’ regime that ensures main sporting events, such because the World Cup, Euros, and FA Cup remaining, stay accessible to the general public with no subscription.
Premier League video games, nonetheless, have been locked behind paywalls because the league’s formation over three many years in the past, with the one exceptions being in the course of the pandemic in 2020 when the BBC aired just a few matches.
MPs might be set to vote on a proposal to make at the least 10 Premier League video games obtainable on free-to-air tv every season ⚽👀 pic.twitter.com/Z3Fu1PNE0o
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) July 8, 2025
The Lib Dems say they’re optimistic {that a} vote will probably be held on their proposal. The celebration has lengthy supported growing public entry to key sporting occasions and final 12 months advocated for reforms to make extra top-tier sport obtainable with out the necessity for expensive TV packages.
Their mannequin mirrors laws launched in Spain in 2022, which mandates that at the least one La Liga match every week is proven free-to-air.
Max Wilkinson MP, the Liberal Democrat spokesperson for Culture, Media and Sport, stated: “I’m urging MPs of all stripes to again our modification to tear down the paywall and make Premier League video games obtainable on free to air channels.
“For too lengthy, the jewel within the crown of British soccer has been locked behind an costly barrier that retains followers out whereas lining the pockets of broadcasters.
“That should finish at this time – with a free-to-air revolution that provides the Premier League again to the nation.”
However, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport signalled little interest in altering the present framework. A authorities spokesperson commented: “The authorities has no plans to assessment the listed occasions regime.”
Despite Labour’s important majority within the Commons, which makes the success of the modification unlikely, the Lib Dems hope to win over a variety of dissenting MPs from different events.
The Premier League has not provided any touch upon the matter.
The Football Governance Bill has now superior to the report stage within the House of Commons.
The Lib Dems argue that watching all at the moment televised Premier League video games reside subsequent season will value followers round £660 per 12 months based mostly on subscription charges.
