A Spanish court has condemned Spain’s football federation, the Real Federación Española de Fútbol (RFEF), for abusing its dominant position by excluding producer and broadcaster Mediapro from its tender for rights to Copa del Rey competition in 2019.
The judgement by the Madrid commercial court is the third consecutive against the RFEF in cases that all concerned Mediapro. The body had previously been condemned for excluding Mediapro from a competitive tender to provide Video Assistant Referee services and for excluding the company from the commercialisation of rights to the Copa del Rey for the 2018-2021 period.
The latest judgement will pile additional pressure on RFEF president Luis Rubiales. The organisation has also been called out by markets regulator the CNMC for its practices.
The watchdog said that the RFEF should improve the way it markets audiovisual rights for the Copa del Rey and Supercopa, and added that the current conditions set by the football body do not meet its legal obligations.
The CNMC said the RFEF should not impose unjustified obligations or reservations that are not supported in law, and that its practice of reserving the right to assess technical and professional requirements in broadcasting matches should be discontinued. It also criticised the duration of contracts and said that these should be in line with European norms.
Mediapro hailed the court ruling against the RFEF and praised the judgement for endorsing its view that the RFEF’s conditions were designed specifically to exclude Mediapro from bidding.
Want more news? Subscribe to CPI’s free daily newsletter for more headlines and updates on antitrust developments around the world.
Featured News
Judge Mehta Questions Both Sides in Landmark Google Antitrust Case
May 2, 2024 by
CPI
FCC Urges Urgent Funding for Removal of Chinese Telecom Equipment from U.S. Networks
May 2, 2024 by
CPI
Former Pioneer CEO Facing Potential Criminal Charges For Colluding With OPEC
May 2, 2024 by
CPI
South Korea’s Antitrust Regulator Greenlights K-Pop Powerhouse Deal
May 2, 2024 by
CPI
Exxon’s Pioneer Purchase Approved, Former CEO Barred from Board
May 2, 2024 by
CPI
Antitrust Mix by CPI
Antitrust Chronicle® – Economics of Criminal Antitrust
Apr 19, 2024 by
CPI
Navigating Economic Expert Work in Criminal Antitrust Litigation
Apr 19, 2024 by
CPI
The Increased Importance of Economics in Cartel Cases
Apr 19, 2024 by
CPI
A Law and Economics Analysis of the Antitrust Treatment of Physician Collective Price Agreements
Apr 19, 2024 by
CPI
Information Exchange In Criminal Antitrust Cases: How Economic Testimony Can Tip The Scales
Apr 19, 2024 by
CPI