Keir Starmer has called on TNT Sports to reverse its decision and let football fans watch the Champions League final between Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain for free.
TNT Sports, the rights holder for the competition in the United Kingdom, is understood to have left UEFA frustrated with its decision to charge viewers for the game, which takes place on May 30 in Budapest, Hungary.
TNT has opted to charge fans for all three European finals this season, each of which involves an English club. The first came on Wednesday, when Aston Villa beat Freiburg 3-0 to win the Europa League.
Starmer, an Arsenal fan, wrote on social media: "Football should bring people together, not shut them out."
Starmer's appeal
Starmer said: "For the first time since the competition began, fans won't be able to watch the Champions League final for free. That's not right. This is bigger than wanting to watch Arsenal in this historic final. It's bigger than one club."
He added: "Hardworking people shouldn't have to fork out for a subscription to watch this match. I urge TNT Sports to reconsider and make the final next Saturday free to watch."
TNT Sports responds
A TNT Sports spokesperson 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."
The spokesperson added: "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."
History of TV rights
TNT Sports, formerly BT Sport, has made the finals free to watch since it first acquired the rights in the 2015-16 season. ITV had shown the final since the competition's rebrand in 1992. The Champions League final is not one of the protected "crown jewels" that the government requires to be shown for free.
TNT confirmed Laura Woods will present the Champions League final, alongside Steven Gerrard, Darren Fletcher and Ally McCoist. Before BT Sport acquired the rights, ITV held exclusive coverage from the competition's 1992 launch until 2003, then shared rights with Sky Sports until 2015.
UEFA's frustration
Sources say UEFA believes the decision breaks the spirit of a contract stating that "best endeavours" should be made to ensure finals are shown for free.
The final and other finals
Arsenal are looking to win the Champions League for the first time in their history. Mikel Arteta's newly crowned Premier League champions face a PSG side bidding to defend its title. Crystal Palace will also bid for glory, in the Conference League final against Rayo Vallecano on May 27 in Leipzig, Germany.
