July 9 – Saudi-based broadcaster beoutQ has continued its theft of live broadcast rights, tacitly backed by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and more overtly backed by Arabsat. It has stolen all 36 group matches of CAF’s Total Africa Cup of Nations.
CAF has issued a statement that it will now join other rights holders in their legal proceedings against beoutQ saying that the piracy is damaging African football.
“CAF strongly condemns the acts of piracy committed by BeoutQ that directly threaten the ambitions of valorization, influence and development of the African football and CAF,” said a statement.
“Therefore, CAF urges BeoutQ to put an end to these piracy acts. CAF also intends, in compliance with its statutory missions, to join the steps taken by the main rights holders harmed (including FIFA, UEFA, AFC, Liga, Premier League and Bundesliga) and to take all necessary measures and actions against entities that commit, or are complicit in the commission of, these piracy acts, including proceedings.”
CAF licensed rights to beIN Sports for North Africa and Middle East, while the Egyptian channel Time Sport Channel is the host broadcaster and has the rights for Egypt.
CAF said that BeoutQ, whose pirate operations extend into North Africa from Saudi Arabia, is “directly threaten(ing) the ambitions of valorization, influence and development of the African football and CAF.”
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