Watford goalkeeper Ben Foster has asked the EFL to let him continue filming Championship matches for his YouTube channel – The Cycling GK.
Reports emerged on Thursday suggesting the veteran shot-stopper may have to remove the videos, which have surpassed one million views, due to a breach of broadcasting rules.
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Foster gives fans insider access to life in goal, sticking a camera in his net during Watford fixtures before uploading the footage to YouTube.
While uploaded in good faith, rules prohibit players from broadcasting EFL action on their own personal channels, but the 37-year-old hopes the league might be able to look past it.
“They don’t seem to have any problem with it,” Foster told talkSPORT. “The content is good, it shows the EFL in a good light.
“I’ve been in football long enough to know what is appropriate content.
“It would be a shame [if it got removed] because I’m really enjoying it, this YouTube thing is a whole new world for me.
“You’ve just got to dive into the comments, it’s all so positive.
“If I can say one thing to the EFL: if we can come to some sort of agreement then brilliant.
“I’m loving it, people seem to enjoy it – it’s win-win.”
Foster revealed he gets around £4,000 per million views, but the money isn’t a motivating factor and he would be happy to donate it.
The Hornets man added: “Maybe we could come to an agreement where I donate the money to Mind (the mental health charity). I think it just needs a conversation.”
Nevertheless, talkSPORT host Simon Jordan regrettably insists the EFL must remove the footage in order to protect their content from people with worse intentions that Foster.
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While lauding the Watford goalkeeper for his creativity and innovation, the former Crystal Palace owner suggests allowing him to share footage of Championship matches would set a dangerous precedent.
He said: “It is creative, out-of-the-box thinking. It’s also contradictory to the rules.
“He can have his YouTube channel, he can dance around the seven bells in his goalkeeper kit if he likes.
“But what he can’t do is film footage of him in goal, because the broadcasting deals have covered all that.
“In his salary, which is paid by the clubs who draw money from the broadcasters, is a specific prohibition of that.”
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