CAF in the dock over TV rights

Cairo : Egypt’s competition watchdog has referred Confederation of African Football chief Issa Hayatou to prosecution accusing him of breaching monopoly rules with an exclusive billion dollar television deal.

The Egyptian Competition Authority (ECA) announced the measure on Wednesday, days before the 16-country Cup of African Nations starts in Gabon.

The authority, which comes under Egypt’s industry ministry, said an exclusive deal with French company Lagardere Sports for Nations Cup tournaments breaches anti-trust laws.

The ECA issued an order on Thursday that television rights in Egypt be widened.

CAF denied any wrongdoing in a statement, saying the ECA did not even mention “any prosecution against the president of CAF” in its letter to the confederation.

The Cairo-based CAF in June 2015 extended a broadcasting deal with Lagardère Sports for its tournaments until 2028 in return for a financial guarantee of at least $1 billion.

The CAF agreed to renew its contract with Lagardère “after evaluating the different offers submitted, and in strict compliance with the existing contractual clauses,” CAF said.

The contract “does not contravene national or supranational legislation,” it said. Lagardere got the media and marketing rights for all CAF tournaments, including the Cup of Nations which starts in Gabon on January 14. The tournament is held every two years.

Lagardère gave the Qatari-owned beIN Sports network rights for the Cup of Nations in the Middle East and North Africa, which includes Egypt.

The watchdog has sought action under Egypt’s Law of Protection of Competition and Prohibition of Monopolistic Practises.