League One announce never-before-seen opening day fixtures but supporters say ‘already not a fan of this’
THE EFL have announced that League One games will start at 5:30pm on the opening weekend in a broadcasting first - and fans are not happy.
All EFL fixtures are set for live broadcast on Sky Sports during the first weekend - including matches scheduled for 3pm on Saturday.
The 2024/2025 season will see the launch of a brand new five-year broadcast deal between the EFL and Sky Sports - with talkSPORT holding national radio rights for the next four years.
This will replace the current iFollow service for UK based supporters.
The new deal will allow League One fans to watch their teams on the telly over 20 times a season for the first time.
In most cases, 3pm kick-offs on Saturday are not allowed to be shown by domestic broadcasters under Article 48 of Uefa’s statutes.
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But the new-look opening weekend will NOT be subjected to the 3pm blackout for the first time ever.
Yet all League One first day fixtures will start at 5:30pm on August 10, with League Two being offered all 3pm slots.
However blackout restrictions will remain in place for the rest of the season, meaning more games will be played outside the traditional time slot.
Footie fans have a deep love for Saturday 3pm kick offs - there is a notion that something about football is lost if a game doesn't kick off at that time.
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The blackout idea came about to ensure football matches still attract large attendances despite some games beginning to be televised.
And League One fans - particularly those with long away trips - are not impressed with the change to more evening kick-offs.
One fuming Leyton Orient fan wrote: "5:30 kick off on the first day? already not a massive fan of this new broadcast deal."
Another wrote: "Opening day kicks off at 5:30pm. Which is annoying!"
A third commented: "Pardon? Oh no I don't like this."
While another said: "Wow only League 2 have been given Saturday 3pm games - Sky Sports are well and truly ruining football!"
A fourth chimed in: "Those EFL kick-off times across on the opening day are hideous, 11 games kicking off at 5.30 in the third division."
Another user wrote: "RIP traditional 3pm kick-offs on a Saturday."
The regular EFL season will begin on the weekend of 10-11 August and run until 3 May 2025.
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