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France has announced a “third shot” system to ensure more football can be seen on TV from the first round of Euro 2020 qualifiers, rather than locking out early games for viewers at home.
As part of the changes, all games at the first round of Euro 2020 qualifiers should be shown live.
The second and third round of matches should be shown on TV but every qualifier should have a “third shot” between the 20th and 75th minutes.
The BBC’s Rishi Persad has been informed of the changes by the French Football Federation (FFF).
France are currently ranked fourth in the world but, following the ruling by the European football ruling body Uefa, which has yet to be finalised, their best Euro 2020 hopes could be dashed.
The BBC Sport website has seen an example of what a third shot could look like in a Euro 2020 qualifier.
The YouTube video shows what happens when a defence loses a header to allow a player to reach the halfway line. A second defender comes in to cover, and the defender is then allowed to run forward without challenge.
The French have already expressed concerns about Uefa’s plans, which are to be ratified next Friday, for the matches.
“This puts a whole sport and game in the dangerous position of playing games on television that players will have to pay to watch, in order to keep their jobs,” France football minister Francoise Nyssen said.
French goalkeeper and former World Cup winner Hugo Lloris said: “If I work on the pitch I don’t want anyone watching. It is not fair.”
Will all qualifiers be live?
Tournament director Teddy Sheringham told BBC Radio 5 live on Wednesday there is “categorically no plan” to relegate certain teams to a lower division for their Euro 2020 group fixtures.
Wales, Republic of Ireland, Scotland and Northern Ireland, who have been in the top division since the 1991-92 season, may be affected by the decision.
However, England, France, Germany, Spain, Portugal and Italy, who have spent the past four years in the top flight, will all be available to play on the biggest stage of all.
How can this be settled?
The BBC’s Persad has been told by the FFF that the problem relates to whether some countries will play their home matches at a stadium against a backdrop of different scenes.
One possible solution would be to give each of the 23 clubs in the countries involved the possibility of playing at their own ground.
However, if one or more would like to play in a neighbouring country’s stadium, they would be given priority.
The problem remains whether Uefa wants to intervene.
The ruling body has to agree to all Uefa’s decisions before they can be implemented.
It would have to decide that, when a European Championship qualifier is in progress, the only replays to be shown at home will be the first two 90-minute games of each group stage.
Television companies, in turn, could decide to decide which replays to show, possibly depriving audiences of live action.