David Ornstein delivers bad news to Leeds United fans after key PL update
Barring a disaster of unimaginable proportions, Leeds United will be playing in the Premier League next season.
However, it looks like plenty of Leeds fans will be denied the opportunity of watching games live, either in the stadiums or on TV.
With games being played behind closed doors since the season resumed, all Premier League games have been shown on TV.
However, writing in The Athletic, Davin Ornstein has delivered a big blow to Leeds fans.
“Although the last 92 fixtures in the 2019-20 Premier League campaign had to take place behind closed doors, at least all of them will be shown live on television,” Ornstein said.
“However, The Athletic has learned that this was a one-off move in light of the COVID-19 pandemic and the Premier League will go back to its normal UK broadcast model next season, even though top-flight stadiums are expected to remain at least partially shut in the coming months.
“The development will deny huge numbers the chance to watch games either inside grounds or in real-time on TV.”
Leeds United would have sold all of their tickets for every game next season in the Premier League.
However, if fans are let back into stadiums, then it looks like it will happen in reduced numbers.
With TV broadcasting rights returning to normal, it means that many fans will have to rely on highlights show Match of the Day to watch their side in certain games.
That’s a tragedy for fans who have been waiting 16 years for Leeds to get back in the top flight.
The good news is that Leeds are likely to attract more than their fair share of Sky games, with huge encounters against Man United and Liverpool almost certain to be shown live.
And some fans could get into stadiums. There has been talk of using the Community Shield as a test event to get fans back into games in a reduced capacity.
However, many more will miss out and we think that the Premier League and broadcasters should take that into account and work out some sort of compromise.
Either that or they will run the risk of fans turning to illegal streams.
In other Leeds United news, ‘It was strange’ – Ally McCoist makes Leeds claim after latest twist in promotion race