CAF: Lagardère launches "emergency arbitration procedeedings aimed at keeping the contract in force"

"Following the decision by CAF to unilaterally cancel its agency agreement with Lagardère Sports, Lagardère, in accordance with the contractual provisions, initiated emergency arbitration proceedings - aimed at keeping the contract in force pending the arbitration on merits - before the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) in Geneva (SUI)," announced Lagardère Sports, on 13/12/2019.

Lagardère had extended its agreement for the exclusive management of media and marketing rights for the main competitions organised by the Confederation of African Football for 12 seasons (2017-2028), for a minimum guaranteed amount of $1bn (€945m as of 06/01/2017) over the period, on 12/06/2015. The agency has been linked to CAF since 1993.

"On December 13/12/2019, while the emergency arbitrator rejected these interim measures, he did not rule on the merits of the case as this was not within his remits. Consequently, the outcome of the emergency proceedings does not in any way predetermine the outcome of any future arbitration on the merits of the case. Under these conditions, Lagardère will…