Champions League Final to Remain Behind Paywall Despite Pressure

Fans will need a subscription to watch the Champions League final between Arsenal and Paris St-Germain on Saturday after TNT Sports decided against making the match free to air. This is despite growing pressure from fans' groups and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer. It will be the first time since the Champions League was launched in 1992 that supporters have had to pay to watch the final. Last Saturday, in a letter to TNT executives, Sir Keir - who is an Arsenal fan - said that he was "a firm believer that the final of this competition should remain free to watch". BBC News understands Sir Keir did not receive a reply and TNT Sports has shown no sign of changing its policy for the game, which is being played in Budapest, Hungary. On Thursday, Sir Keir joined forces with the Football Supporters' Association, external and independent fans' groups in another attempt to get TNT to reconsider its position. BBC Sport understands Uefa is disappointed, and argued the final should remain free to air. But ultimately the decision about how to show games remains the choice of the rights holder. All three showpiece European finals, which have each featured an English club, have been behind a paywall.