The strict FA rule is being paused for one weekend during Championship games because a rare loophole was found.
The EFL season kicks off this weekend, with all 72 teams from the Championship, League One, and League Two playing matches over the next four days. It all starts on Friday night with the Championship game between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Blackburn Rovers, which will be shown live on Sky Sports.
On Saturday lunchtime, fans can watch the Lancashire derby between Bolton Wanderers and Preston North End on TV, along with three other League One games and two League Two matches. Then, on Sunday at 4pm, Championship title favorites West Ham United visit Burnley’s Turf Moor stadium. Monday evening wraps things up with an all-Wales derby between newly promoted Cardiff City and Wrexham.
All 36 EFL games across the three divisions this weekend will be shown live on Sky Sports or on the red button service, Sky Sports+. This is unusual because many matches are happening at 3pm on Saturday, a time when English football usually has a TV blackout.
The blackout officially runs from 2:45pm to 5:15pm and is set by the Football Association (FA). UEFA’s Article 48 allows national football bodies to block matches during these hours to protect live attendances. The FA must confirm these blackout times at least 14 days before the season starts, and they stay the same all season. This rule is in place in England until at least the end of the 2028/29 season.
So, why is this weekend different? UEFA’s Article 48 also says that the blackout only applies if most matches in the top two leagues (Premier League and Championship) start at the same time. Since the Premier League season hasn’t begun yet, and only six Championship matches kick off at 3pm on Saturday, the blackout doesn’t apply. That means fans can watch any game they like on TV this weekend.
Back in December, The Guardian reported that the Premier League and EFL planned to discuss possibly ending the blackout altogether. It’s believed they agree that showing every game live is the best way to bring in more money.