With the global COVID-19 pandemic still in full effect and having a major effect on the finances of football, the Premier League has announced the termination of the existing TV rights contract with China. 

Ending two years early, the decision has come on the back of China’s PPTV channel cancelling the broadcast of Liverpool’s game with Chelsea this summer which heralded the Merseyside club’s first title win in 30 years.

There’s no doubt that the impact of the rights being withdrawn from such a lucrative region is going to be huge. Football is already suffering a finance hangover from the Coronavirus outbreak, with clubs stoically saying this summer won’t see the kind of reinvestment in rosters that previous years have seen. This news is sure to have an even bigger effect of the tightening of purse-strings.

From shirt sponsorships to image rights, broadcasting the English Premier League in China has been crucial to the growth of the game, but in particular, England’s top flight. PPTV, part of Suning Holdings in China are, as reported in The Guardian, owed £160 million that was due six months ago when the initial lockdown period was inflicted on football as it was the world. That was part of the £564m deal that covered the years of 2019/2022 for the broadcast of Premier League football, a deal which was called the richest that had ever been signed when it was announced. Behind closed doors football isn’t the same product, of course, and it is a matter that has risen into debates between the political leaders of both the United Kingdom and China as it has escalated.