THE Saturday 3pm blackout should be kept “for the health of the entire game” and put above the whims of broadcasters, a fans’ chief has said.

The Times has reported that senior figures in football believe the blackout – designed to protect live attendances at matches throughout the pyramid – is unlikely to survive beyond the 2028-29 season, when the current domestic Premier League and EFL television deals end.

Tom Greatrex, the chair of the Football Supporters’ Association, issued a statement to the PA news agency calling on the game’s authorities to properly assess the impact of scrapping the blackout.