UK football fans won't be able to watch the first 15 minutes of Luis Suarez's return in El Clasico
The Evening Standard's journalism is supported by our readers. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Luis Suarez will make his keenly anticipated return to competitive football in El Clasico – but fans in the UK won’t be able to see all of his return.
Due to rules implemented in the 1960s, broadcasters aren’t allowed to televise live football matches between 2.45pm and 5.15pm on a Saturday afternoon.
The idea is that this protects attendances at lower league football matches, but the legislation also prohibits games from abroad being shown live on TV.
So when Real Madrid and Barcelona kick off at 5pm UK time on October 26, no-one in the UK will be watching.
Not until the match is 15 minutes old will British fans be able to see Suarez play competitively for the first time since he was banned for biting Giorgio Chiellini at the World Cup.
Unbeaten Barcelona are currently top of La Liga, four points clear of their arch-rivals Real, who are in fourth.
