beIN Sports ordered to pay over €14m to LFP Media | OneFootball

A ruling by the Tribunal des activités économiques de Paris has ordered beIN Sports to pay LFP Media more than €14 million in unpaid instalments over its Ligue 1 rights, according to Le Progres.

The court also dismissed beIN’s claims in full, including nearly €57 million in damages sought from the league’s commercial arm.

LFP welcomed the decision, saying it underscored the need to honour contractual commitments around the match acquired and broadcast by beIN. The broadcaster said it noted the first-instance ruling and would promptly examine avenues of appeal, adding that it remains committed to subscribers.

beIN has held one of the nine Ligue 1 fixtures per round for the past two seasons, paying €78.5 million annually. Unhappy with broadcast restrictions, it did not settle invoices in full, paying only €14 million of the €18 million due at the last three instalments. It also holds Ligue 2 rights until 2029.

The company argued those limits on choosing its game should have ceased after DAZN left at the end of last season and Ligue 1+ launched this season. From next season, beIN will no longer carry Ligue 1 and Ligue 1+ will show all nine matches, with its subscription rising from €14.99 per month.

On 14 January, beIN and Canal+ were also dismissed by the Paris Court of Appeal in separate rulings in their long-running dispute with the LFP over Ligue 1 rights, where they were seeking about €660 million.

Source: Le Progres