Piracy: Canal+ & beIN obtain injunctions to block sites illegally broadcasting the Champions League

The Canal+ Group and beIN Sports France, supported by UEFA, have both obtained injunctions from the Paris court ordering various internet service providers (ISPs) in France to block fraudulent websites illegally broadcasting Champions League matches, according to the European body on 14/02/2022, the eve of the beginning of the 2021-22 Champions League Round of 16 first legs.

"The orders obtained are one of the first of their kind and are based on a new French law (in force since 01/01/2022) designed to regulate and protect sports competitions from illegal online exploitation and gives France’s media regulator, Arcom, the power to extend the blocking measures to any websites not yet identified in the order that illegally transmit live content of UEFA Champions League matches, during the current season," explained UEFA.

beIN Sports France and Canal+ had previously welcomed this new measure with the blocking of fraudulent sites notably for the TotalEnergies AFCON Cameroon 2021 (beIN Sports) and the Top 14 (Canal+) in January 2022.

"The decisions are evidence of the new and flexible…