Numerous football fans eager to watch Cristiano Ronaldo’s second debut for Manchester United may be left disappointed because of a TV blackout.

Ronaldo is back at Old Trafford twelve years after he left for Real Madrid and later Juventus.

The 36-year-old is expected to play at some point when they host Newcastle United on Saturday.

However, the game will not be broadcast live in the UK, denying millions the chance to watch Ronaldo wear United’s highly prized number 7 shirt again.

With the weekend’s fixtures to be shown live by British broadcasters decided weeks ago, it is too late to move the Manchester United vs Newcastle game from its 3pm kick-off time.

This means it can’t be broadcast live in the UK.

This is due to a stipulation that has been followed in the UK for over 40 years: the “3pm blackout,” as it has become known.

The rule states that no game of any kind, whether in the Premier League, Championship, or even Bundesliga or LaLiga, can be broadcast live on British television on a Saturday between 2.45 pm and 5.15 pm.

The rule originally excluded the FA Cup final, but since 2012 that showpiece at Wembley has kicked off at 5:15 pm.