FOXES TRUST PRESS RELEASE
Following a Premier League meeting with the Football Supporters Association (FSA), the FSA’s Premier League Fans Network issued a statement urging the Premier League to come to an agreement to broadcast all games until such time that full stadium attendance is allowed.
Steve Moulds, who represented the Foxes Trust at the meeting said, “Currently we are faced with the ridiculous situation where fans across the world can watch every Premier League game live, but fans who live in the UK and have attended matches for many years cannot”.
The Foxes Trust is at the forefront of this campaign, with fellow City Fans’ Groups the LCFC Supporters Club, Foxes Pride and LCFC Disability Support Association also backing the call.
Sandra Fixter of the LCFC DSA said, “Our supporters are in the most vulnerable group and I have had many phone calls from members who feel unable to attend on health grounds”
Ian Bason, Foxes Trust Chairman added “We must not overlook the mental strain that Covid 19 has had. For 90 minutes fans can escape the pressures of their lives, releasing that pent up emotion watching football; the value to their mental health should not be underestimated. To deny fans the opportunity to attend games or even watch a live media broadcast, as they could during Project Restart, will have a knock-on effect on mental health.”
Shadow Health Secretary, Jon Ashworth MP, whose constituency includes the King Power Stadium has confirmed to the Foxes Trust that he has written to the Premier League raising this important matter.
The fans’ campaign is not demanding free to air viewing. Regular match attending fans will be happy to pay a reasonable amount to access games. City fans are showing their commitment to the Club by paying to retain their Season Ticket or Membership, in return those fans deserve access via media channels for any games they cannot attend.
Bason continued “The reluctance of the Premier League to sit down with the media companies and resolve this issue is baffling. The media companies would gain revenue by providing access, and should certainly not be looking to claw back any payments from the Premier League – that would simply be profiteering on a pandemic”
“The plans directly hit the most loyal fans and that loyalty is being completely disregarded. This is simply not right. Added to which, those supporters with underlying health issues are being doubly discriminated against – being able neither to attend the matches nor watch on TV.
“Fans have become wearily accustomed to playing second fiddle to the demands of international television audiences, but this announcement caps it all.”
With the season fast approaching, the FSA stated “As a matter of urgency top-flight supporters urge the Premier League to resolve this issue. Do not stop fans watching their teams during a global pandemic. It would be a disastrous decision by the Premier League and they must listen to supporters”.