TV rights: the European Union Court of Justice dismisses UEFA and FIFA appeals

The European Union's Court of Justice has confirmed that EU (European Union) members have the right to prohibit broadcasts of the World Cup and European Championship on pay-TV channels and the right to require that they are transmitted on free channels, it was announced on the 18/07/2013.

"The Court rejects appeals by FIFA (International Federation of Association Football) and UEFA (Union of European Football Associations) against judgments of the Court (EU) on the television broadcast of the World Cup and the Euro, "said the European body, based in Luxembourg.

The Court made reference to the EU directive concerning the pursuit of television broadcasting activities* authorising Member States to prohibit the exclusive broadcasting of events which they deem to be of major importance for society, where such broadcasts would deprive a substantial proportion of the public of the possibility of following those events on free television.

• Belgium and the United Kingdom each drew up a list of the events they regarded as being of major importance for society in their respective states…