Thursday’s Premier League 2 play-off final missed out on being broadcast live on Sky Sports for the first time due to a dispute between Manchester City and Southampton over the game’s location.
The disagreement followed City breaching Premier League 2 rules by not having the Etihad Stadium available to host the fixture.
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The competition rules state that both semi-finals and the final have to be played at the main stadium of the home club, but the 53,000-seater Etihad has major development work to be completed in time for next season and City are instead holding the game at their 7,000-capacity Joie Stadium.
City could be referred to the Premier League’s football board to decide on potential punishments for the rule breach.
Premier League 2 is a youth club competition intended to smooth the transition between academy and first-team football and features under-21 players from the country’s top academies. Thursday’s play-off final determines the Premier League 2 champion for the 2024-25 season.
Southampton were unhappy that under-21 players would miss out on a showpiece event as it could be the only time some of them play a final at a major stadium.
They proposed playing the game at St Mary’s but it would have meant reversing home advantage, which City earned by finishing top of the league season, so it was declined.
City proposed Joie Stadium, home of the women’s team and their academy sides since 2014 which also staged matches at the 2022 Women’s European Championship, as an alternative venue.
The Premier League attempted to broker an agreement but after exhausting all avenues the only option available in the time frame was to play at Joie Stadium.
Sky Sports and the Premier League worked on an agreement to broadcast the game, but the disagreement between clubs ultimately meant the game will not be aired.
The date and location was only confirmed yesterday (Wednesday), which could affect the attendance.
City believe Southampton have been opportunistic and that their delay in accepting Joie Stadium was what caused the television coverage to fall through. They informed the Premier League in March and April to make them aware of the building works at the Etihad and the potential to run into rule breaches.
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They staged the semi-final at the Joie Stadium against Manchester United after the Premier League worked with both clubs to agree to it.
Southampton played the last-16 and quarter-final at St Mary’s, while they also faced Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park in the semi-final. They are frustrated at what they see as the Premier League not enforcing their own rules.
A win this evening would see City become the most successful PL2 side with four titles.
(Top photo: Harriet Massey/Newcastle United via Getty Images)
