Manchester City's Premier League clash with Leeds will be televised, despite kicking off at 3pm on Saturday, with the blackout rule temporarily lifted.
The English FA is among a handful to follow UEFA's article 48, setting aside a period where no game can be broadcast live on television. This means no games are allowed to air between 2.45pm and 5.15pm on a Saturday - a rule which has been applied to overseas leagues broadcast in the UK as well as games within the English football pyramid.
The blackout has been lifted in the past, most notably when Premier League football returned after being paused during the Covid-19 pandemic. This time, though, the Coronation of King Charles III is the key factor.
Sky Sports had originally selected the match as one of its Sunday fixtures. However, with City due to play Real Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday night, the broadcaster was forced to find a new slot for the meeting between sides at the top and bottom of the table.
A Saturday lunchtime slot was out of the question, though. That would clash with the Coronation of the new king, with the ceremony scheduled for 12pm.
The Coronation itself might only take up part of the day, but it requires a significant police presence. For this reason, the game can't be moved to the Saturday 5.30 slot either.
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Aside from the unusual broadcasting arrangement, the game will be Leeds' first under new manager Sam Allardyce. The former England boss took over from Javi Gracia, who was sacked in the aftermath of a 4-1 defeat at Bournemouth.
"I may be 68 and look old but there's nobody ahead of me in football terms, not Pep, not [Jurgen] Klopp, not [Mikel] Arteta, so it's all there with me," Allardyce said upon taking the reins. "I share what they do and I do what I do but in terms of knowledge and depth of knowledge, I'm up there with them – I'm not saying I'm better than them – but certainly as good as they are."
Guardiola, who faces the veteran manager on Saturday, came to Allardyce's defence. "He's right, I wanna be honest" the City boss said.
"Look what happened with Neil Warnock at Huddersfield. These [are] incredible managers. It looks like the young managers, with the tactics or whatever…
"But [the older managers] are really good, they help us be who we are, like Roy Hodgson at Crystal Palace . They have incredible experience, they know the game perfectly."
Leeds go into the fixture sitting outside the bottom three on goal difference, while City are top of the pile after beating West Ham in midweek. The reverse fixture ended 3-1 in City's favour in December, with Premier League top scorer Erling Haaland bagging a brace.
