October 3 – OTT streaming service Eleven Sports has challenged the English FA’s ban on the broadcast of live football matches on Saturdays between 2.45pm and 5.15pm by showing live coverage of Barcelona’s match against Athletic Bilbao last weekend.
The rule is enforced to protect match day attendances in the English leagues though at UEFA it is only viewed as an optional regulation.
A previous Eleven statement, broadcast as text over a commentary of Cristiano Ronaldo’s debut for Juventus against Chievo (after 15 minutes the match came outside the blackout rules) said: “No other countries outside the UK and Montenegro apply this rule. We disagree with it and we will continue to challenge it with the best interests of our customers at heart.”
Eleven is owned by Andrea Radrizzani who also owns Leeds United. The channel has UK rights to Italy’s Serie A, taking over from BT Sport. It also holds rights to La Liga and has partnered with Facebook as itss free-to-air partner in the UK with at least one match a week from Serie A and La Liga showing live on the social media platform.
The FA, the Premier League and the EFL have made no comment on action they could take against Eleven, though it seems unlikely they have any protection in common law as they would likely argue the blackout rule is an illegal restraint of trade.
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