Liga pushes back Saturday kick-off for UK audience

The late afternoon Saturday kick-off slot in the Liga, the top division of football in Spain, will be pushed back “to accommodate the UK audience” next season, according to Spanish Football League (LFP) president Javier Tebas.

The traditional 18.00pm kick-off in Spain will be switched to 18.15pm during the 2015-16 season. In the UK, broadcasting law prohibits live football being shown on television from 14.45pm to 17.15pm on Saturdays.

On Sundays, the 17.00pm kick-off time will be moved to 16.30pm and the 21.00pm match will be brought forward to 20.30pm.

There will continue to be games on Saturdays at 16.00pm, 20.00pm and 22.00pm, and on Sundays at 12.00pm and 19.00pm, with Tebas saying that the midday kick-off on Sunday is designed to appeal to Asian markets.

Friday and Monday games will continue to start at 21.00pm.