More than half of football fans tune in for sport’s return

Viewers fitted in as much coverage as they could after months away

(PA)

Football fans have embraced the long-awaited return of the sport with 53 per cent watching matches over the weekend.

A poll of 2,000 adults revealed viewers spent an average of more than 10 hours watching games between Friday and Sunday.

And 37 per cent admitted to having watched as much of the coverage as possible, including both the pre and post-match commentary.

But one in five admitted they were worried about their increased energy usage over the weekend as a result.

With pubs and stadiums still closed to the public, free-to-view options meant that even more fans tuned in at home, including to watch the weekend’s biggest game, Everton versus Liverpool.

The BBC also showed its first Premier League game since its inception in 1992.

Without being able to watch with friends, 46 per cent of fans said they relied on technology more than usual to recreate a good football viewing atmosphere.

The average viewer used two devices during match time, with one in six fans turning to video calls to debate the game with friends while they watched at home.

Robert Cheesewright, director of corporate affairs at Smart Energy GB, who commissioned the research, said: “The Premier League is finally back and although fans are unable to enter stadiums, every game is available to view on television, which brings about a greater reliance on TV’s, laptops and smart devices as people try to recreate that matchday atmosphere you get nowhere else but on the terraces.

“In a time where people are using more energy at home than usual, even when watching the football, it’s important to keep an eye on your consumption."

SWNS