DOHA (AFP) - Qatari broadcaster beIN Sports on Tuesday (March 12) threatened legal action against the Asian Football Confederation, alleging the governing body had "surrendered" to Saudi Arabia in a new row over Gulf broadcasting rights.
Earlier on Tuesday, the AFC announced it would live-stream free matches featuring Saudi clubs in the region's premier club competition, the Champions League.
BeIN hold the rights to air competition matches.
The latest flashpoint comes amid a long-running row between the two countries over sports broadcasting, which has seen Qatar accuse Saudi of facilitating "industrial-scale" piracy of its programmes through a channel called "beoutQ", a claim Riyadh denies.
It also comes amid an ongoing bitter diplomatic Gulf crisis which has seen Qatar boycotted for the past 21 months by neighbouring former allies including Saudi Arabia.
"In response to the extraordinary announcement by the AFC... beIN is set to launch a major international legal dispute against the Confederation for material breach of its multi-million dollar broadcast agreement." beIN added the move was "clearly political".
The Doha-based sports broadcasting giant has held a contract with the AFC since 2013 to cover Champions League games as well as the Asian Cup tournament.
BeIN is thought to spend around US$38 million (S$51.5 million) a year on the contract, which is up for renewal in 2020.
In a statement, the AFC said it had made the move to "protect the rights of its commercial and broadcast partners".
Matches will be live-streamed on geo-blocked digital channels including Facebook Live, added the AFC.
A statement from the Saudi Press Agency said the AFC, in a letter to the Saudi Arabian Football Federation, was cancelling "the monopoly of beIN sports channels".
The news agency said the decision was based on "serious legal and systematic violations" committed by beIN.
This will not be the first legal action threatened by beIN.
Last October it launched a US$1-billion compensation claim against Saudi broadcasters over the issue of piracy.
The latest row comes just weeks before the AFC elects its new president.
One of the three candidates is Qatar's Saoud al-Mohannadi.
Football: Jesus shines as City regain top spot, Eriksen fires
BURNLEY 2 WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS 0 Burnley boost survival hopes with 2-0 win over Wolves. 3 Min Read BURNLEY 2 WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS 0 . Soccer Football - Premier League - Burnley v
Burnley boost survival hopes with 2-0 win over Wolves
PSG take charge with 2-0 win at Manchester United, Paul Pogba sent off Kylian Mbappe and Presnel Kimpembe scored with assists from Angel Di Maria as Paris St Germain beat Manchester United 2-0 at Old Trafford.
Football: PSG take charge with 2-0 win at United, Pogba sent off
Chelsea boss Sarri baffled by 6-0 humbling at Man City dropped to their lowest position of the season to sixth after losing to Manchester City. fantastic football and we made a lot of
Chelsea boss Sarri baffled by 6-0 humbling at Man City
Jordan Henderson admits he is in Jordan Pickford's debt "forever" after England's World Cup 2018 penalty shootout win setting Henderson up for a potentially bright future in TV star eager
The Guardian's 2008 List of England's 20 'Future Stars
The Jose Mourinho blueprint Tottenham must follow to beat Ajax and reach Champions League final. Latest Spurs news includes comments from Jose Mourinho on their Champions League semi-final opponents
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer needs Sir Alex Ferguson Manchester
Queensway Seccondary School: Success through Diligence. ST Young Athlete of the Year: Passion and determination drive footballer Putri Nur Syaliza and ACS paddlers. One of our girls is excelling in the Girls Football scene and has been nominated for the ST Young Athlete of the Year award!
Home | ST Young Athlete
Eden Hazard marked his 100th cap with an early goal to set Belgium on their way to a comfortable 2-0 away win over Cyprus in their Euro 2020 qualifier on Sunday.
Hazard marks milestone with early goal to help Belgium win
Valencia stroll into Europa semis with Villarreal win 19/04/2019 Oman Observer VALENCIA: Valencia eased into the Europa League semifinals for the first time in five years with a comfortable 2-0 win at home to fellow Spaniards Villarreal in heavy rain on Thursday for a resounding 5-1 aggregate scoreline.
Valencia vs. Villarreal - Football Match Report - April 19
tv5.espn.com/football/report?gameId=538709
Valencia eased into the semifinals of the Europa League for the first time in five years with a comfortable 2-0 win at home to fellow Spanish side Villarreal in heavy rain on Thursday for a resounding 5-1 aggregate scoreline.
Valencia stroll into Europa semis with Villarreal win - Reuters
Liverpool's Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino ruled out of FC Barcelona game Egypt international Salah was carried off the pitch with a head injury in Saturday's 3-2 Premier League win at
Liverpool's Salah, Firmino ruled out of Barcelona game
Football: Chelsea held 2-2 by Burnley, denting Champions League hopes Chelsea's Jorginho (left) vies for the ball with Burnley's Chris Wood during a Premier League soccer match at Stamford Bridge
Chelsea held 2-2 by Burnley, denting Champions League hopes
LONDON (REUTERS) - Arsenal forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang shot to the top of the Premier League scoring charts with two goals in Saturday's (Dec 22) 3-1 home win over struggling Burnley
Aubameyang brace gives Arsenal win over Burnley - Football
Neymar to miss United tie after being ruled out for 10 weeks tie against Manchester United after the French club confirmed on Wednesday that the world's most expensive player would be out for
Neymar to miss United tie after being ruled out for 10 weeks
Jermaine Jenas has called on Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino to drop goalkeeper Hugo Lloris and bring in second-choice stopper Paulo Gazzaniga. Pundit says Spurs must consider
0 Kommentare:
Kommentar veröffentlichen