Premier League, others suspend rights to televise English matches in Russia
By Oviri Kelvin, Sports Editor, Abuja
The Premier League in a swift resolution among the 20 clubs has suspended Russia from its broadcast over the latter’s onslaught on Ukrainians last week.
The four-hour meeting in London on Tuesday also witnessed the resolution by the Premier League to donate £1,000,000 to Ukraine to help support its people in this perilous time.
The decision of the Premier League which takes immediate effect will prevent Russians from gaining access to watch Thursday’s matches featuring Norwich City/Chelsea,
Southampton/Newcastle United, Wolverhampton Wanderers/Watford, and Leeds United/Aston Villa.
Following the Premier League resolution, the England FA in a separate move has suspended Russia over a similar incident.
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The England FA which will be hosting the quarter-finals of the FA Cup this month will deny Russia the right to televise the match in its country.
However, Rambler Group is in the final stage of their three-year contract to televise Premier League matches in Russia and will have to suspend its services henceforth in line with the decision of the England top-flight football governing body.
In addition to the suspension of both English football administrative bodies, the English Football League (EFL) has also suspended Russia from gaining access to its broadcast feeds with immediate effect stating that “’Football Stands Together’ with the people of Ukraine and all those impacted.”
Defending its decision, the company holding the right to televise Premier League matches in China refused to air the last matches stating that Putin must be treated as a pariah in the face of the world.
