The Premier League DENY putting the blackout rule at risk after moving Man City vs Leeds

The Premier League were forced to deny that plans to break the 3pm blackout to broadcast Manchester City’s game against Leeds on the day of the King’s Coronation will set a dangerous precedent for one of football’s most precious traditions.

City’s fixture was due to be shown on Sky Sports on Sunday, May 7 but has been brought forward by a day due to the first leg of their Champions League semi-final on May 9 against Real Madrid.

The Premier League match will now take on place on Saturday, May 6 at 3pm with the game still scheduled to be televised despite falling inside the blackout period that bans football matches in the UK being televised.

A Premier League statement confirmed the game could not be moved to a lunchtime slot ‘so as not to clash with the King’s Coronation’, while an evening kick-off was not possible because of a ‘lack of police resourcing’.

Leading fan groups slammed the decision. ‘This game should never have been chosen for a Sunday 2pm slot in the first place — it was entirely predictable that Manchester City would progress in Europe, necessitating further domestic fixture changes thanks to TV,’ a Football Supporters’ Association spokesman told The Mail on Sunday.

Manchester City’s home game with Leeds United will unusually be broadcast live to a UK audience despite kicking off at 3pm on a Saturday

The game will break the 3pm Saturday blackout rule that bans games being broadcast in UK

‘These “conditional picks” are an ongoing, fundamental problem which neither football nor broadcasters show any appetite to fix. TV comes first and fans are expected to dance to its tune.

‘Football should put matchgoers first, ahead of the demands of TV executives. We support the blackout and oppose any increase in the number of matches for TV.’

The blackout, also known as Article 48 of the UEFA Statutes, blocks the broadcast of games at any level in England between 2.45pm and 5.15pm on a Saturday to protect match attendances and participation at grassroots level.

The Premier League have taken ‘exceptional’ circumstances due to King Charles’ Coronation

Manchester United’s hosting of Chelsea has been confirmed for Thursday, May 25

Premier League sources insisted a move to 3pm was only due to ‘exceptional’ circumstances and would not put the blackout at risk with the next domestic television rights deal also set to adhere to Article 48.

The top flight still needs agreement with ‘relevant stakeholders’ for the game to be televised, including UEFA and the Football League, although the Premier League are said to be confident of getting the necessary approval.

They believe the fact that all Championship fixtures have already been moved from Coronation Day will avoid any conflict as Article 48 can only be enacted when 50 per cent of fixtures in the top two divisions kick off at 3pm.

The Premier League also confirmed the date and time for Manchester City’s away match against Brighton with the fixture now scheduled for Wednesday, May 24 at 8pm.