Sheffield United and fellow Premier League clubs set to vote on whether to continue pay-per-view coverage of games

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Sheffield United will join their fellow Premier League clubs to decide whether or not to stick with their controversial pay-per-view arrangements for the round of games prior to the November international break at a meeting on Tuesday.

Top-flight games which were not selected for regular television broadcast on Sky Sports or BT Sport have been made available on a pay-per-view basis, costing £14.95 per game.

Fans' groups, including the Football Supporters' Association, have urged the league and the broadcaster to reconsider the pricing while many supporters have taken it upon themselves to boycott the games, instead donating money to foodbanks and other good causes instead of paying the £14.95.

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The campaign ‘Fifteen’s Obscene’, started by a United fan, has raised thousands for St Luke’s Hospice while Newcastle and Liverpool supporters have done similar with foodbanks in their areas.

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.

But the top-flight clubs will be under pressure to look again at the pricing, with a decision set to be taken on Tuesday about what broadcast arrangements to put in place for the matches being played between November 6 and 8.

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.

United fans have not been able to see their team ‘live’ since March, when the Blades beat Norwich at Bramall Lane in the last game before football was shut down.

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