Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden has met with chief executives from the Premier League, EFL and Football Association ahead of a potential restart of professional football in June.
Mr Dowden said that the Government was “opening the door” for competitive football to safely return and made clear that it should be at least in part to a free-to-air audience.
“This should include widening access for fans to view live coverage and ensure finances from the game’s resumption supports the wider football family,” he said
“It is now up to the football authorities to agree and finalise the detail of their plans, and there is combined goodwill to achieve this for their fans, the football community and the nation as a whole.”
Rights holders Sky Sports, BT Sport and Amazon will no doubt resist the prospect of handing over one of their key properties – and fans may equally be disappointed if there is no competitive edge to any match that finds its way onto terrestrial TV.
While the Premier League, and second tier Championship are likely to return, chairman of League 1 and League 2 clubs are expected to vote to abandon the rest of their seasons.
