Mike Ashley demands Premier League to ‘immediately act and review’ it’s pay-per-view arrangements
Newcastle United owner, Mike Ashley, has hit out against the Premier League after charging fans £14.95 to watch one live game as part of ‘pay-per-view arrangements’.
Considering Ashely’s dealings in the past, especially this year as his Sports Direct stores stayed open during the national lockdown and reopened one day early.
It’s fairly surprising, but this is 2020.
In a statement, on Newcastle United’s website, Ashley stated:
“I am calling on the Premier League to immediately act and review its current pay-per-view arrangements for live matches in the UK.
“Charging £14.95 for single televised matches in the current climate it is not acceptable to any football fan.
“Supporters have overwhelmingly rejected this offer and the Premier League must now act.
“Why not make it much more accessible at £4.95 per match until Christmas?
“The Government should waive VAT on the above pay-per-view matches so that as many of those who are unable to attend matches in person can at least watch their team.
“The profit from the above reduced-price pay-per-view option, I would suggest that 50% would be retained by Premier League and 50% would go to the football pyramid below.
“As a club, Newcastle United did vote in favour of the pay-per-view proposal, but to be clear, this was because there were no realistic or any viable alternatives put forward to enable supporters to watch matches.”
The controversial arrangement expected fans – who had paid for a season ticket and/or had a Sky Sport’s package – to fork out another £15 to watch a single live game, rather than have it included.
However, many fans disagreed with this proposal and United fans managed to raise over £20,000 for a local foodbank in a ‘pay-per-view protest.’
This recent statement wasn’t what fans were expecting after the NUST (Newcastle United Supporters Trust) recently urged the team to refund fans their season tickets, as fans remain absent inside football stadiums.
Do you think £4.95 is still too much for fans who have a season ticket and/or Sky Sports at home? Let us know.
