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Rabat – The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has informed Qatari broadcasting giant beIN Media Group of its decision to cancel the 12 year broadcasting contract between the two with immediate effect.
The decision was relayed to beIN by CAF’s lawyers on Friday September 1, according to the BBC.
The African confederation has accused the Qatari broadcaster of a contractual breach, claiming outstanding payments in the region of $80 million.
The move is expected to result in drawn-out legal processes between the two entities and far-reaching consequences for African football, as the deal is by far CAF’s biggest television agreement.
Broadcasting revenue represents one of the most important revenue streams for football federations, and by extension national teams and clubs that take part in their competitions.
The deal was signed in 2017 for 12 years and was worth $415 million.
beIN has acknowledged “a number of issues that have affected the contractual relationship” but has said it intends to sue CAF unless the issue can be resolved through “open discussions in good faith,” the BBC reported.
“We are, of course, taking all necessary steps to robustly defend our legal position,” beIN Sports CEO Yousef Al-Obaidly reportedly wrote to CAF on Saturday. “I must make clear to you that beIN does not accept this termination and will take all necessary legal steps to challenge and overturn it.”
The letter additionally suggested that the termination might have happened without going through the necessary internal measures.
beIN broadcasts CAF’s various competitions in the Middle East and North Africa, as well as in Asia, France, and the United States, making it a presence in 40 territories in total.
The cancellation leaves audiences in those territories in limbo for now, especially with several tournaments on the horizon.
The CAF Champions League and Confederation Cup, the continent’s biggest club competitions, are set to start in November. The newly created African Football League is set to begin in October.
Additionally, qualifying rounds for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) are set to take place this month, with the actual tournament kicking off in January.
It remains to be seen if an agreement will be reached with beIN to continue broadcasting the games, or if CAF will seek out a new broadcast partner.
