With fans still unable to watch matches in England in grounds for the foreseeable future, supporters can only view live games on the two satellite TV channels, Sky and BT Sports. Monthly subscriptions are not cheap, especially at a time when the income of many households is being squeezed because of the financial impact of the Coid-19 pandemic.
However, in order to try and recoup some of the money they had lost, the Premier League clubs came up with a plan to charge viewers an extra 14.95 to watch matches that had not been selected for broadcast by one of the two TV stations.
It has proved to be a public relations disaster, prompting a huge backlash.
Fans are outraged that they are being asked to pay more, and the viewing figures have been described as disastrous. Instead supporters groups have bandied together and decided to pay the money they would have paid to watch the game to local charities instead.
More than 20,000 was given by Newcastle fans to a local food bank, and Liverpool supporters gave more than 100,000 to Liverpool food banks and shelters as well. In the most recent example, Arsenal fans gave more than 34,000 to Islington charities rather than watch their side play Leicester City on Sunday night.
Now the Premier League clubs are considering either scrapping the scheme altogether or reducing the cost per game to something more reasonable.
The two broadcasters are not happy either, because they feel they have been painted as the villains of the piece.
They have pointed out that the idea was not theirs but that of the Premier League clubs, and that also they did not set the price.
In fact, under the scheme they just cover their costs, and make no profit, because the bulk of the money goes to the clubs themselves.
In effect, they are being blamed for offering fans an extra service.
The issue will be discussed at a meeting of Premier League clubs this week.