The English Football League (EFL) and Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL) have launched investigations and are considering legal action after discovering that television coverage of their matches has been broadcast in Russia this season.
Broadcasts without rights
Football TV, a Russian subscription and streaming service, has shown numerous games from the opening two rounds of the EFL, as well as Scottish Premiership matches featuring Celtic, Rangers and Hearts.
The EFL and SPFL stopped broadcasting in Russia in March 2022 following the full-scale invasion of Ukraine the previous month. They have not sold rights packages in the country since, so the live footage appears to have been obtained and televised illegally.
Recent games aired
Until the invasion, the EFL had a rights contract with Football TV, and the Scottish Premiership was broadcast on Match TV. The Premier League suspended its broadcasts in Russia at the same time, with its rights held by Okko Sport.
The EFL contacted Football TV last week after being alerted that several games, including Cardiff’s 1-1 draw with Wrexham last Monday and Watford’s 2-1 win over Southampton the previous day, were shown in Russia. Despite the complaint, the broadcaster also aired live coverage of West Ham v Charlton and West Brom v Burnley this past weekend.
Those matches were listed as test events, raising concerns that Football TV may also plan to show illegal content from the Premier League.
Action being pursued
Several Scottish Premiership matches were shown over the past two weekends, with the broadcasts promoted on Football TV’s Telegram channel. The EFL and the SPFL’s priority is to ensure the broadcasts stop, which is being pursued, and they are seeking to discover the source of the pirated content.
Both organisations are understood to reserve the right to take legal action against Football TV and whoever is supplying it with access to their matches. An SPFL source said the league was investigating the matter in conjunction with its broadcasting distribution rights holder, Infront. The EFL and SPFL declined to comment.
