Premier League prepares to end Russian TV deal over Ukraine
THE PREMIER LEAGUE IS SET TO cancel its television broadcast contracts in Russia following the country’s invasion of Ukraine.
Premier League chief executive Richard Masters last week said the current deal with Russia was “under review” due to the invasion.
Reports from Sky Sports on Monday (Mar
7) claimed lawyers have been told to start the process of ending broadcast agreements with Russian partners and an announcement was said to be imminent.
The Russian television rights for the current
season are owned by a company called Rambler
and broadcast on streaming platform Okko in a deal reportedly worth around £6 million (B260mn) per year to the Premier League.
It came after the Chinese rights holders of the Premier League refused to air its football matches last weekend (Mar 5-8) as the games showed collective solidarity with Ukraine.
Captains of all Premier League club wore armbands in the colours of Ukraine and took part in a moment of reflection and solidarity ahead of kick-off which was featured in international broadcast feeds.
But two Chinese rights holders for the league – streaming platforms iQiyi Sports and Migu – decided not to air the matches.
It comes after the Winter Paralympics opening ceremony in Beijing last Friday, when
state broadcaster CCTV avoided translating part of International Paralympic Committee president Andrew Parsons’ forceful remarks
– when he mentioned “war” – even though he did not name Russia or Ukraine.
The Premier League terminated a lucrative
broadcasting contract with streaming service PPTV in China in 2020, after it reportedly failed to make a £160 million payment due as the COVID-19 pandemic hit.
In 2019, CCTV dropped an Arsenal v Manchester City match from its programme after Gunners midfielder Mesut Ozil expressed
support for mainly Muslim Uighurs in Xinjiang.
On Tuesday (Mar 8), Bayern Munich’s Polish
international striker Robert Lewandowski cut ties with sponsor Huawei amid claims the Chinese tech giant has been helping Russia secure their network against cyber attacks following the invasion of Ukraine.
“The world cannot accept what is happening there. I hope the whole world will support Ukraine,” said Lewandowski.