Keir Starmer has urged broadcaster TNT Sports to allow football fans to watch Arsenal’s Champions League final showdown with Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) for free.
The British Prime Minister, a Gunners fan, said he was “saddened” that the showpiece European club competition’s final would not be available without paying in the UK for the first time in the competition’s 34-year history.
“Hard-working people should not have to worry about forking out for a subscription to watch a game of this magnitude,” the British Prime Minister said in a letter to TNT Sports.
The broadcaster said subscriptions were available from £4.99 to allow viewers to watch the game on May 30th.
Starmer said: “I was saddened to see that, for the first time since the competition started 34 years ago, TNT Sports has decided that the Champions League final will not be free to watch for football supporters here in the UK.
“The Champions League is the biggest club football competition in the world and rightly means a lot to fans in this country – the home of football.
“I am a firm believer that the final of this competition should remain free to watch, whether Arsenal have made it or not.”
He said “we should be putting supporters first” and “I want to strongly urge you to reconsider and make the final next Saturday free to watch for the millions of passionate football fans in this country”.
TNT Sports has the rights to the three European club competition finals, all of which feature English clubs this year.
It said the option of a month-long subscription to HBO Max to watch the games was “exceptional value”.
Aston Villa defeated German side Freiburg to win the Europa League last week and Crystal Palace will take on Rayo Vallecano in the Conference League final this coming Wednesday.
But it is the decision to keep next Saturday’s flagship Champions League competition behind a paywall which has drawn criticism.
The final has either been on free-to-air TV or available to stream online without paying until this year.
A TNT Sports spokesman said: “It has been a privilege to bring UEFA club competitions to sports fans across the UK throughout the season. Having three Premier League clubs reach the finals shows the strength of English football and something that we are proud to continue to support.
“We have made all three UEFA finals this year available from just £4.99, the price for a month-long subscription to HBO Max that also includes the great entertainment on the service.
“This represents exceptional value for fans to watch the conclusion of the competitions.”
Arsenal will take on PSG, the current holders, in the Champions League final in Budapest next Saturday.