War in Ukraine/TV rights: "Our contracts in Russia are under review" (R. Masters, Premier League)

"In regards to our international broadcast contracts in Russia. Clearly, they are under review. And in many respects, I would like the Russian people to see the strength of feeling in the Premier League and in English football this weekend (05/03/2022). But we are looking at them very closely in terms of suspension or termination, given the current circumstances," said Richard Masters, chief executive of the Premier League, at the "Business of Football Summit", organised by the British newspaper The Financial Times, at The Biltmore Mayfair hotel, in London (ENG), on 03/03/2022.

The Russian broadcasting rights to the Premier League are currently held by Russian search engine Rambler Media (for its streaming platform Okko) for an estimated €7m per year over the 2019-2022 cycle. Rambler Media is owned by the Russian bank Sberbank, which suffered sanctions in the UK and USA following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

The rights for the 2022-2028 cycle were acquired by Gazprom Media-owned pay-TV group Match TV for an estimated €50m over six years (€8.3m per season). The sponsorship contracts…