EFL To Stream Matches While Fans Can’t Attend

All Sky Bet EFL matches will be broadcast or streamed live while fans remain unable to attend games in person after an agreement was reached between the league and Sky Sports.

The temporary move means that, while there are no (or only limited numbers of) spectators at matches, all of the matches not broadcast live on Sky Sports will be available for clubs to stream on the iFollow service, or that club’s equivalent platform, for £10 per game. 

Sky will broadcast 130 live EFL matches throughout the season. 

According to the EFL, club season ticket holders will also be provided with access to all home games, subject to their agreement with the club, while in the Championship, access to midweek away games will also be available as part of the season ticket package if clubs choose to offer it.  

“There is no argument that attending live matches is what the league, its clubs and fans want to see and, clearly, the overriding objective is to get supporters back into stadiums as soon as it is safe to do so. In the meantime, this framework allows our Clubs, if they so wish, to reward their most loyal supporters by providing what we hope is only short-term access to watch their matches,” said David Baldwin, CEO, the EFL.

“It’s important that whilst the doors remain fully, or part shut, we ensure there is the ability for fans of all EFL clubs to be able to gain access and watch their team and I would like to take this opportunity to thank Sky Sports for their support in this matter. Collectively, it’s not our preferred situation but given the circumstances COVID has presented us it gives us a temporary option whilst we finalise our plans for fans returning.”

The EFL says that the move is a temporary measure while clubs cannot welcome fans back through the gates in large numbers, and has confirmed that the initiative will be subject to ‘regular review’, the first of which is set to take place in early October.