Premier League matches will not be broadcast in China this weekend by the plans of the English teams to show messages of support for Ukraine after the invasion of the Russian Army, as revealed on Friday by the BBC.
The platform iQiyi Sports, which owns the broadcasting rights of the English league in the Asian country, has informed the Premier that it will not broadcast the next matches, in which the team captains will wear armbands with the Ukrainian flag, British media reported. The Chinese company signed a three-year contract last year for the rights to English football, the amount of which has not been disclosed.
Premier League officials this week announced plans for stadium screens to show messages of support for Kyiv and fans to be invited to save.”a moment of reflection and solidarity” before the kick-off of all matches.
The English league has declined to comment on the blackout on Chinese English soccer television, limiting itself to stressing this week that it “completely rejects Russia’s actions” in Ukraine.
The decision of the Chinese platform comes at a time when the Premier is considering suspending television rights contracts in Russia, according to the newspaper. The Times.
This It is not the first time that the Asian country vetoes the broadcast of English football. In 2019, the Chinese channel CCTV removed the broadcast of a match between Arsenal and Manchester City after the German midfielder Mesut Ozil criticized on social media the treatment of the Uyghur minority.
