Liverpool and Manchester City great James Milner is entering his 24th Premier League season with a new challenge he’d rather skip: cameras in the dressing room. Milner has spoken out against the league’s latest broadcast initiative, saying the dressing room should remain a private space for players, especially younger ones navigating fame.
The Premier League is rolling out changes for this season’s broadcasts, including limited access to dressing rooms for Sky Sports and TNT, and mid-match interviews with substitutes. In addition, camera operators will be allowed to enter the field for close-up shots of goal celebrations. Some fans see the moves as a step toward Americanization of a league long known for its own style of presentation, though officials note that dressing-room cameras are not a common feature in most American sports, where access is typically outside the locker room.
Milner’s stance is clear. “Everything is so public. There is talk about having cameras in dressing rooms, which for me is an absolute no-go. That can’t happen,” he told The Athletic, underscoring concerns about privacy as players adapt to life in the public eye.
With Liverpool set to kick off the season against Bournemouth, the debate over privacy versus broadcast access will be in the spotlight as fans react to the new format. The Premier League is betting that the enhanced access will deepen viewer engagement, while players and clubs weigh how much behind-the-scenes content they’re comfortable sharing.
What to watch next: reactions from other veteran players and clubs, how broadcast crews manage dressing-room access, and whether the league adjusts the policy based on feedback as the season unfolds.
Summary: Milner’s warning about dressing-room cameras highlights a broader privacy-versus-transparency conversation in modern football, as broadcasters seek closer, more intimate access while players guard the sanctity of changing rooms.
Overall, the piece presents a neutral-to-slightly-critical view of the new policy, focusing on Milner’s concerns and the potential privacy implications for players. A hopeful note is that the league may refine the approach to balance access with privacy, ensuring players feel comfortable while still delivering engaging content for fans.