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Following on from the successful streaming of the England's UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualifier against Macedonia at Coventry City’s Ricoh Arena last month, The FA has announced plans to provide football supporters in the UK and Ireland with more live games available free through its online portal FAtv here on TheFA.com.

The first of these is on Saturday evening when Leeds United travel to Oldham Athletic for The FA Cup sponsored by E.ON First Round fixture from Boundary Park. The game kicks-off at 5.15pm and will be the first live FA Cup match in the history of the competition available exclusively to an online audience.

A week later, at lunchtime on Saturday 14 November, England Under-21s are playing at Wembley in their next 2011 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualifier against Portugal. Group leaders Greece are currently six points ahead of second placed England having played two games more. This match will be one of England’s games-in-hand and it is vital that Stuart Pearce’s men put in a strong performance.

The whole match will be available free to internet users in the UK and Ireland on FAtv on TheFA.com and will kick-off at 12.30pm.

Following these games and all before the end of November The FA Cup again becomes the main focus for FAtv with more live matches from both the First Round replays and the Second Round. All selected games will be streamed free of charge and at two different bit rates to ensure compatibility with viewer’s personal bandwidth capacity, thereby giving the best possible online viewing experience.

Commenting on the plans, Ian Watmore, Chief Executive Officer of The FA said: “This is a first for a football governing body in the UK and will ensure that along with our broadcast agreement with ITV, the maximum number of football fans will see for free matches from The FA Cup and Stuart Pearce’s England Under 21s.

"As more and more people become used to viewing premium content online The FA is determined to remain at the forefront in the evolution of new digital delivery technologies for sport.”

The FA are partnering with digital sports specialist Perform Group to deliver FAtv. Oliver Slipper, Perform’s joint-CEO commented: “This is a very exciting partnership to be involved with. The FA is leading the way in the exploitation of their media rights and the internet is fast becoming a mainstream platform for the consumption of live sport.”

(Source: The FA)