Blackburn v Arsenal Match Blacked-Out In United States

Soccer fans living in the United States who want to watch Blackburn Rovers against Arsenal today (Noon ET) will be disappointed to learn that the game is not available and is, for lack of better words, blacked-out. It’s not being shown on ESPN2 (as originally planned) or Fox Soccer Channel nor Fox Soccer Plus or even FoxSoccer.tv, so die-hard Arsenal or Rovers fans only have one way to watch it and that’s illegally.

This is the first time in the entire season that Arsenal fans living in the United States will be unable to see their team live on television or the Internet. It’s either a sad reflection that US broadcasters feel Arsenal’s season is effectually already over, or that ESPN2 was unable to air the game on its channel because “ESPN First Take” is on instead.

Nevertheless, it’s a shame that many soccer fans have only two options. Either skip the game or try viewing it online, illegally.

In other soccer TV news for US readers, if you don’t have DirecTV, you better brown nose your friends who do or plan a trip to your local pub to see the Europa League Final on May 12 between Fulham and Atletico Madrid. That’s because the game will only be available on DirecTV channel 461 on Wednesday, May 12 at 2:45pm ET. In related news, Fulham will be wearing its third strip for the final.