Keir Starmer has appealed for TNT Sports to reverse their decision and allow football fans to watch the Champions League final between Arsenal and PSG for free.
The broadcaster, who are the rights holders of the competition in the United Kingdom, are understood to have left UEFA frustrated with their decision to charge viewers to watch the game, which will take place on May 30 in Budapest, Hungary.
TNT have opted to charge fans to watch all three European finals – each of which involves an English club.
The first took place on Wednesday, with Aston Villa beating Freiburg 3-0 to win the Europa League.
Starmer, an Arsenal fan, called for TNT Sports to make the upcoming final free to watch.
‘Football should bring people together, not shut them out,’ Starmer wrote on social media.
Keir Starmer has called for TNT to reverse their decision and make the Champions League final free for fans
Arsenal are set to face holders PSG in the Champions League final in Budapest next weekend
‘For the first time since the competition began, fans won’t be able to watch the Champions League final for free. That’s not right.
‘This is bigger than wanting to watch Arsenal in this historic final. It’s bigger than one club.
‘Hardworking people shouldn’t have to fork out for a subscription to watch this match.
‘I urge TNT Sports to reconsider and make the final next Saturday free to watch.’
TNT Sports – formerly BT Sport – have made the finals free of charge since it first acquired rights in 2015-16. ITV had previously shown the final since the competition’s rebrand in 1992.
However, this year access has been restricted to customers who pay £31.99 a month and subscribers to HBO Max, which comes in at £4.99 a month.
The Champions League Final is not one of the protected ‘crown jewels’, which government stipulate must be shown for free.
TNT announced the move and added that Laura Woods would present the Champions League Final, with Steven Gerrard, Darren Fletcher and Ally McCoist.
It’s the next step in the final being moved to pay-to-view TV, with BT Sport, TNT Sports’ former name, picking up the UEFA rights in the 2015-16 season.
Viewers are having to pay to watch the Champions League final for the first time this season
Prior to that year, the Champions League final had been free to view on ITV, which had exclusive rights since the competition’s launch in 1992. That ran until 2003, then the channel shared the rights with Sky Sports until 2015.
UEFA have been left frustrated with the decision, with sources arguing the decision breaks spirit of a contract that says ‘best endeavours’ should be made to ensure finals are free.
Arsenal are looking to win the Champions League for the first time in their history, but are up against it with Mikel Arteta’s newly crowned Premier League champions taking on a PSG side bidding to defend their title.
Crystal Palace will also bid for glory in the Conference League final against Rayo Vallecano, with the showpiece set to take place on May 27 in Leipzig, Germany.
