Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has joined forces with the Football Supporters’ Association (FSA) and multiple fan groups to call for the Champions League final to be broadcast free-to-air. The match between Arsenal and Paris St Germain on Saturday is set to be shown exclusively on TNT Sports, a subscription channel, breaking a 34-year tradition of free access to the final.
In a joint statement, Starmer and the FSA urged TNT Sports to reverse its decision. “Football is for the fans,” the statement read. “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.” The statement was backed by supporters’ trusts from Arsenal, Aston Villa, Chelsea, Crystal Palace, Liverpool, Manchester City, Newcastle, Nottingham Forest, and Tottenham Hotspur.
TNT Sports holds the rights to all three European finals this year, all featuring English clubs. While the Europa League and Conference League finals were also behind a paywall, the Champions League final has drawn the most criticism. A TNT Sports spokesperson defended the move, saying: “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.”
The Prime Minister, an Arsenal fan, had previously expressed disappointment at the decision. The FSA and fan groups argue that the final should remain accessible to all, as it has been historically. The call comes as the match in Budapest approaches, with no indication that TNT Sports will change its plans.
