Arsenal are back in action when Everton head to the Emirates Stadium for a crucial Premier League title showdown on Wednesday.
The Gunners can extend their lead over Manchester City in second place to five points with a defeat of Sean Dyche's relegation battlers. Arsenal beat Leicester City 1-0 last time out and AFC Bournemouth head to north London on Saturday as Mikel Arteta's side continue their title quest.
What all three of those games have in common is none of them are permitted to be shown on live television in the United Kingdom. The Leicester game took place on a Saturday afternoon and with the Bournemouth clash due to take place at 3pm on Saturday, they were held during the traditional Saturday afternoon blackout period.
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Arsenal's clash with Everton can not be shown on TV in the UK because it was due to be held on a Saturday afternoon earlier in the season, like the Liverpool vs Wolves game also taking place on Wednesday.
Supporters of all four sides in action as well as neutrals are perplexed that they cannot watch Premier League action on Wednesday night, but can tune in to FA Cup games being shown instead.
The FA enforces a blackout on television football broadcasts between 2:45pm and 5:15pm, meaning even overseas football cannot be viewed in the UK.
It does not apply to a match that kicks off at lunchtime but runs over, such as the Kidderminster Harriers vs West Ham United FA Cup game last season.
The rule is designed to encourage supporters to watch matches in person, particularly lower league games, rather than stay at home and tune in to football on the TV. It was lifted during the coronavirus lockdowns, when club-specific television stations were permitted to show games.
The blackout rule first came into force in the 1960s, when television coverage of matches was just starting to begin.
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