EFL clubs have reportedly voted to “expand the iFollow streaming service” for the upcoming campaign.

Clubs in the Championship, League One and League Two voted in favour of the change at the League’s annual general meeting, according to inews.

Matches during the winter World Cup will now be streamed along with midweek and Bank Holiday fixtures.

Papa John’s Trophy ties and games during international breaks will also be streamed, as well as any rearranged fixtures which fall in midweek or on a free Saturday.

The Saturday 3pm blackout has been retained for a further season outside of the international window.

Current rules prevent matches from being shown on television and iFollow between 2:45pm and 5:15pm on a Saturday.

However, these measures were temporarily relaxed during the 2020/21 campaign when all games were played behind closed doors due to the pandemic.

There is said to be increasing belief that the blackout rule will change in the near future – potentially as early as 2024/25.

Fans currently pay £10 per game to watch live via iFollow, while commentary is also available for games that are not being streamed.

Accrington Stanley chairman Andy Holt recently made the headlines, describing iFollow as a “deliberately flawed concept”.

Holt wrote a letter to EFL chairman Rick Parry, claiming: “Currently the EFL is taking away match day income and taking away our streams against our wishes and allowing others to sell them on for their private gain. I do not know how anyone at the EFL can argue this is right or just.”

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