The reason for English football matches often kicking off at a staple 3pm on Saturday afternoons actually dates back to an 18th-century law. Matches across the country hear the referee’s whistle bellow come 3pm, and though the inability to broadcast these games at Premier League and EFL level in the UK is a contentious issue, the slot remains a historical part of the sport. The ‘blackout’ that blankets all of these fixtures and prevents them, or any football fixture from 2.45pm and 5.15pm on a Saturday airing live in the UK, was introduced in the 1960s to protect the attendances of lower leagues. However, it has been marred by controversy in recent times after a decision was made to lift it during the coronavirus pandemic.
Fans fighting against the rule will have to endure it until at least the 2028/29 season, as per the new TV deals agreed by the Premier League and EFL in 2023. But the reasoning behind why matches occur at this specific time originates in 18th-century statute. The law passed that answers the question of why matches are played at 3pm is the Factory Act 1850. After this act was passed, it restricted Saturday hours for industrial workers, meaning that factories couldn’t keep their staff past 2pm.
It meant that workers needed to find something to fill their recreational time on Saturday, and this supposedly saw an upturn in the number of people visiting drinking establishments. Therefore, it is said that a counter-formation of football, cricket, and athletic clubs – and an increase in those who would come to watch them – combated these habits. Beginning matches at 3pm left enough time for locals to finish work at 2pm and make the fixture, and also allowed the match to be completed in daylight during the winter months. This habit stuck, and thus, professional matches are still played during this slot today.
Yet, the time and subsequent blackout is now a contentious subject. Many are in favour of scrapping the blackout, while others still believe it protects the lower leagues, as per the reason it was created. Jeff Stelling, who was a staple on Sky Sports’ Soccer Saturday for nearly 20 years, stands firmly in the remain camp and reacted angrily to a report from The Times that suggested it is 'unlikely' the rule will remain in place after the new deal expires post-2028/29 season.
"So the headline should read, 'greedy Premier League, it's all about us. You lot, you can go and do one. We don't care about you'," exclaimed Stelling on talkSPORT, responding to the report. "It seems the Premier League don't care at all, and frankly, the fact that the Premier League or whoever it is, are saying that they're worried about illegal streaming, so what? Tell the TV companies to cut the price of subscriptions and that will stop people streaming things illegally instead. They've got to start to look after the lower league sides.".
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