[ad_1]
the Premier league is in talks with UK rights holders about the best way to stream the remaining games of the season as the campaign nears a return to behind closed doors, the Pennsylvania news agency understands.
It has been six weeks since the English top flight was suspended in an attempt to stem the coronavirus outbreak, and talks are continuing on when and whether play can resume.
A return to action is being considered in June and the Premier League is understood to be in talks about the best way to stream matches with fans who will be kept out due to concerns of social estrangement.
A government spokesman said: “Ministers continue to work with sporting governing bodies on how live sporting events can be resumed in the future. This can only happen once we have passed all five tests to ease measures of social distancing.”
Of the remaining 92 games this season, 47 are already slated to air between Sky Sports and BT under existing contracts.
As for the remaining 45 matches, PA understands that the Premier League is in talks with those broadcasters along with its fellow UK packet holders, BBC and Amazon, about a reasonable and proportionate position on how those matches could be broadcast.
Any decision would require the consent and support of interested parties, although it is not clear if the matches would be shown for free.
During a quarterly fan forum held by conference call on Friday, Manchester United Executive Vice President Ed Woodward said the club hoped to be able to complete the 2019-20 season with or without fans present.
“Like all of you, we are eager to see the team return to the field as soon as we are told it is safe to do so, hopefully completing a season that still promises us so much in the Premier League, the Europa League and the FA Cup when it was suspended, “Woodward said.
“We are in constant dialogue with our governing bodies on when and how that will happen and we will continue to participate in this forum to keep fans in consultation.
“And while it is possible that the games will be played behind closed doors in the short term, we all recognize that football will not return to normal until the fans attend again.”
– TEAMtalk media
