Manchester City and Sheffield United breached the TV blackout today for their FA Cup semi-final tie at Wembley.
The football authorities wanted to hold the game at 5.30pm, however police said the match could go ahead at 4.45pm at the latest due to safety issues. The TV blackout, introduced more than 50 years ago, prohibits clashes to be televised between 2.45pm-5.15pm. A spokesperson for the FA said: "The kick-off times for our fixtures are scheduled in collaboration with the clubs, local authorities, police, and broadcasters. We were informed by the police and local safety advisory group that 16.45 was the latest time possible for this tie."
The rule was brought in back in the 1960 when then-Burnley chairman Bob Lord complained it would damage attendances at matches. There could be potential fines for breaching the rules. Man City are set to breach the blackout again with their Premier League match against Leeds which has been moved to a 3pm kick-off on a Saturday. The fixture, originally scheduled for Sunday May 7, has been brought forward a day because of City's first-leg Champions League semi-final clash against Real Madrid at the Bernabeu on Tuesday May 9.
The clash was scheduled to be shown on Sky Sports and that remains the case despite it now being in the Saturday afternoon blackout period.
That blocks the broadcast of games at any level in England between 2.45pm and 5.15pm on a Saturday in order to protect match attendances and participation at grassroots level. However, the Premier League said in a statement: "The match will remain live on Sky Sports in the UK, subject to further consultation with relevant stakeholders."
The league added that a lunchtime broadcast slot has been avoided "so as not to clash with the King's Coronation", while an evening kick-off is not possible because of a "lack of police resourcing". Pep Guardiola's City, who face Sheffield United in the semi-final of the FA Cup at Wembley on Saturday, remain in contention to complete the treble.
They are five points behind Arsenal with two matches in hand, and host Mikel Arteta's side at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday.
City have also had their outstanding fixture at Brighton scheduled for Wednesday May 24, with the Premier League campaign ending on Sunday May 28.
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