Riyadh rejects TV piracy claims by Uefa

Saudi Arabia has firmly rejected claims that a streaming service distributing the World Cup football matches in the Middle East and North Africa was based in the kingdom.

“The Ministry of Information has become aware of irresponsible accusations made in a Union of European Football Associations (Uefa) press release regarding an entity known as beoutQ,” the ministry said in a statement.

“The ministry unequivocally rejects the Uefa baseless claims that beoutQ is based in Saudi Arabia. The ministry understands that beoutQ’s set-top boxes are available in many places, including Qatar and Eastern Europe. Moreover, Uefa’s irresponsible statement is contrary to what is occurring in the kingdom.”

The Uefa reportedly said that “a pirate channel, named beoutQ based in Saudi Arabia” had also illegally distributed the World Cup matches as well as Uefa Champions League and Europa League club tournaments. The ministry said that Qatar’s beIN Sports, a subsidiary of the Al Jazeera Media Network, is the source of Uefa’s allegation.