NEWCASTLE UNITED owner Mike Ashley tonight called for Premier League to review its controversial pay-per-view arrangements.

Matches played after October’s internationals which were not selected for regular television broadcast were made available on a pay-per-view basis via Sky Sports’ or BT Sport’s box office services at £14.95 each – sparking an outcry from fans. Many supporters have opted to donate money to charitable causes instead of paying the fee, with Magpies fans raising more than £20,000 for a foodbank in Newcastle.

The Premier League is expected to stick with the arrangements for the round of games prior to the November international break.

The PA news agency understands clubs will receive an update on broadcast matters at a meeting on Tuesday and it is likely the current arrangements will remain in place for the matches on the weekend of November 6-8. A decision on how to proceed in the longer term is not expected to come out of the meeting.

But tonight Ashley issued a statement to say: “I am calling on the Premier League to immediately act and review its current pay-per-view arrangements for live matches in the UK. Charging £14.95 for single televised matches in the current climate it is not acceptable to any football fan.

“Supporters have overwhelmingly rejected this offer and the Premier League must now act.

“Why not make it much more accessible at £4.95 per match until Christmas?

“The Government should waive VAT on the above pay-per-view matches so that as many of those who are unable to attend matches in person can at least watch their team.

“The profit from the above reduced-price pay-per-view option, I would suggest that 50 per cent would be retained by Premier League and 50 per cent to go to the football pyramid below.

“As a club, Newcastle United did vote in favour of the pay-per-view proposal, but to be clear, this was because there were no realistic or any viable alternatives put forward to enable supporters to watch matches.”

Fans’ groups including the Football Supporters’ Association urged the league and the broadcasters to reconsider the pricing when it was announced earlier this month.

Premier League chief executive Richard Masters said earlier this month the price was “defensible” while BT Sport said it was simply covering its costs in screening these matches.

A spokesperson for the FSA said: “Our members have expressed the view that they want the ability to watch their teams legally while they remain locked out of games with the Covid-19 restrictions in place.

“However, by donating hundreds of thousands to local foodbanks instead of paying the £15 fee for pay-per-view over the past week, supporters have shown just how unpopular PPV is in its current format and pricing. It needs urgent reconsideration from the Premier League, clubs and broadcasters.”

Premier League clubs had hoped to welcome back some supporters to stadiums from October 1, but the Government has imposed an indefinite delay on those plans due to the rise in coronavirus cases nationwide.

The league has warned English football will lose £100m for every month fans remain barred from grounds, with the EFL stating on Sunday that the Government’s position was “frustrating and perplexing”, with indoor venues such as shopping centres and cinemas open to the public.