March 9 – The Premier League has suspended its TV deal with Russia with immediate effect, cutting off the feed as punishment for the country’s invasion of Ukraine.
The deal with Russian broadcast partner Rambler, due to expire at the end of the season, is worth around £6 million a year to the English top flight but the 20 clubs voted unanimously to terminate it.
In a statement, the Premier League also said it would make a £1 million donation to help provide humanitarian aid to those in Ukraine affected by the crisis. The English Football League quickly followed suit by cutting the feed of its matches to Russia.
The news means that Russians will no longer be able to watch Premier League games on Okko Sport, and EFL matches on Football TV, iFollow and other streaming services.
All 20 Premier League club captains wore blue and yellow armbands in the national colours of Ukraine last weekend and there was a minute’s applause before kick-off at each ground
The decision to stop feeds to Russia was backed by British sports minister Nigel Huddleston, who said: “We fully support the Premier League’s decision to stop broadcasting matches in Russia in response to (president Vladimir) Putin’s barbaric, senseless invasion of Ukraine. Russia cannot be allowed to legitimise its illegal war through sport.”
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